The Crows have selected talented South Australian Wayne Milera with their first pick in the 2015 AFL National Draft.
Milera, 18, is a classy midfielder/forward from SANFL club Central District. He made his league debut for the Bulldogs in Round Two this year and played a total of 11 senior games, including two finals.
Elusive in traffic and an excellent decision maker, Milera’s best game came against Glenelg in Round 18 when he kicked five goals from 25 disposals. The 183cm, 77kg, former Ingle Farm junior also kicked three goals in the Semi-Final against Port Adelaide, helping guide the Dogs to a five-point win.
His clutch Semi-Final performance came just over a week after he had surgery to correct a heart condition. As part of the SA Under-18 program, Milera underwent an ECG test that detects cardiac abnormalities and was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome causes an increased heartbeat through an extra electrical pathway inside the heart, meaning there isn't a big enough break between beats. He had surgery to correct the abnormality and missed SANFL Elimination Final as a result. He’s since been given the all-clear.
Milera played all six games for South Australia at the Under-18 National Championships, showing his skills on the wing, at half-forward and also at half-back. His disposal efficiency across the championships was among the best at 84 per cent. He capped off a strong year by finishing seventh in the 30-metre Repeat Sprint Test at the Draft Combine.
An avid Crows fan, Milera is a nephew of Sydney Swans legend and fellow Central District product Michael O'Loughlin, and a distant relation to former St Kilda forward Terry Milera.
SA Talent Manager Brenton Phillips said Milera had the versatility to play a number of roles.
“Wayne’s got some skills. He'll play that high half forward role, maybe, go onto a wing or even play off half back,” he said.
“He's really clever around goals, and he's a great character. He has a real bubbliness and a big cheesy grin. He has that bit of spunk about him."
As a result of bids on Academy players, Adelaide’s first selection – originally pick No.9 – moved down the order to No.11.
DRAFTEE BIO:
Wayne Milera
183cm, 77kg
14/9/1997
Midfielder/forward
Central District (SANFL)
