Wayne Milera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wayne Milera |
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Milera in June 2019
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Wayne Milera | ||
| Date of birth | 14 September 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | South Australia | ||
| Original team | Central District (SANFL) | ||
| Draft | No. 11, 2015 national draft | ||
| Debut | Round 1, 2016, Adelaide v. North Melbourne, at Etihad Stadium |
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| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Adelaide | ||
| Number | 30 | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Wayne Milera is a professional Australian rules football player. He was born on September 14, 1997. Wayne plays for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was chosen by Adelaide as the 11th pick in the 2015 national draft.
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Early Life and Football Journey
Wayne Milera grew up in Adelaide, South Australia. He has Indigenous heritage from the Gunditjmara and Narangga peoples. Wayne started playing junior football with the Ingle Farm Football Club.
Before joining the AFL, he played for Central District in the SANFL. He played 11 senior games for them, including two important finals. Wayne also played all six games for South Australia in the Under 18 National Championships. He was part of Port Adelaide's Indigenous AFL Academy.
During this time, Wayne was diagnosed with a heart condition called Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome. He had surgery to fix it. Just one week later, he showed amazing strength by kicking three goals in a semi-final game. This helped his team, Centrals, win a very exciting match.
AFL Career Highlights
Wayne Milera made his AFL debut in the first game of the 2016 AFL season. He played against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium. After playing in the first four games, he got an injury and missed three rounds. He returned to play in round eight. In round nine, he kicked three goals against Gold Coast.
Rising Star Nomination
In 2017, after a great game against Fremantle, Wayne was nominated for the AFL Rising Star award. This award recognizes the best young players in the league. Even though he played in 24 games during his first two seasons, he did not play in any of his club's five finals matches.
Moving to Defence
In the 2018 season, Wayne changed his playing position. He moved to the half-back line. This happened when his teammate Brodie Smith was injured. In a round 6 game against Gold Coast, Wayne had a career-best game. He collected 33 disposals, which means he got the ball 33 times.
Contract and Injuries
In February 2020, Wayne signed a new five-year contract. This meant he would stay with the Adelaide Football Club until at least the end of 2025. However, his 2020 AFL season was cut short because of a foot injury that needed surgery.
He also missed the entire 2021 AFL season. This was due to a knee injury in his patella tendon during a pre-season game.
Strong Return and Leadership
The 2023 AFL season was Wayne's most consistent year. He averaged a career-high 19.7 disposals per game. The Crows just barely missed out on playing in the finals that year.
Before his ninth season with the Crows, Wayne was voted into an extended leadership group. This shows that his teammates trust and respect him.
Another Setback
In a round 3 game of the 2024 Adelaide Football Club season against Fremantle, Wayne suffered another season-ending knee injury. It was the same type of injury he had in 2021. He was just one game away from playing his 100th AFL match. This meant he had to watch the rest of the season from the sidelines. He only returned to training at the end of 2024.
Personal Life
Wayne Milera married his long-term partner, Nina, in 2023. They have a son together.
Wayne also became the first-ever First Nations Education Ambassador for the AFL Players Association. He shares this role with St Kilda player Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. This role helps educate others about Indigenous culture.
Images for kids
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Milera in June 2019
