‘Fire in the belly’: Milera seeks finals redemption
Adelaide’s players are seeking some redemption for last year’s finals flop in Saturday’s final.
For Adelaide’s All Australian defender Wayne Milera and his teammates, the pain has been there for a year.
And only on Saturday night, in their home elimination final against the Western Bulldogs, can the Crows do anything about it.
Milera describes it as a “fire in the belly”; a deep desire to atone for last year’s finals flop.
“We didn’t quite fire a shot last year, so that’s still sitting in everyone,” Milera said.
Last season, Adelaide finished minor premiers and then crashed from the finals with two consecutive home losses.
This year, the Crows finished sixth to earn hosting rights against the Bulldogs, who pipped Collingwood by three points in a wildcard final last weekend.
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But Milera said they also enter with a firm belief that they’re collectively and “definitely” better placed than last year, when the club returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
“Playing those two finals, we’ve experienced it,” he said.
“I definitely think there’s a confidence within the group that we’re well prepared to attack it this year.
“Everyone always speaks about finals pressure, but until you’re in it and you live it … now, everyone knows what to expect.
“Everyone is pretty keen to get back out there and really bring it.”
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Milera said last year’s flame-out – losses to Collingwood, then Hawthorn – had again been discussed this week.
“We’re not wanting to shy away from the fact last year was very disappointing,” he said.
“We’re definitely keen to show that we can play finals footy.
“Probably our biggest learning was the pressure of finals footy and and how it jumps up and how we handle that.
“But also, not shying away from how we played throughout the year, how we can bring that into the final series, that place of confidence.”
The Bulldogs summoned Will Lewis to replaced Matt Kennedy, who is sidelined by concussion.
Adelaide replaced small forward Zac Taylor (hamstring) with Brisbane’s dual premiership winner Callum Ah Chee for a game that could be club icon Taylor Walker’s last.
Walker, the Crows’ all-time leading goalkicker, will retire at season’s end.
“It probably just does sit in the background; Tex has been a unreal for our footy club and for SA footy in general,” Milera said.
“It’s sad to see him finishing up this year but we’re also excited about the possibility of where his career could end.”
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