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Hayley Miller is AFL’s new toughest competitor.
IF THE AFL had an award for their toughest competitor, Hayley Miller would take the cake in 2016.
Playing for the West Coast Eagles women’s team against Fremantle on Saturday, the 19-year-old hobbled off the field not long after the first bounce with a sharp pain in her lower leg.
Returning to the Western Derby a short time later, Miller played out the remainder of the game with what was presumed to be nothing more than a corked muscle.
However after finishing the match, and helping lead her side to victory with two goals in the final quarter, it was revealed that the injury was in fact a lot more serious than first thought.
Miller had suffered a fractured fibula during a tussle with a Fremantle Dockers forward in the opening minutes of the match.
West Coast Eagles coach Martine Pearman said the youngster was clearly in pain at the start of the match, but agreed with medical staff’s assessment that the injury was a cork as opposed to anything more concerning.
“She was initially in a lot of pain and hobbled off the ground,†Pearman told WA Today.
“She was assessed and we just thought it was a cork... she thought she could push through it and went back on the ground playing in the forward line as she was a bit restricted.
“Your adrenaline’s kicking in and you don’t always feel the extent of the injury and how much pain is being generated.â€
Miller for the Brownlow in 2016?Source:Getty Images
Pearman said even more impressive were the nature of Miller’s scoring possessions, considering the broken leg appeared to have little, if any, impact on her playing ability.
“Ironically [her two goals were from] sprinting out on a lead and jumping up and taking the mark,†she said.
“We watched the footage of the game the next morning and we could see the impact was pretty full on and sent her for an x-ray.
“She’s a tough cookie and a very dedicated player.â€
The 19-year-old’s gritty showing is not dissimilar to that of last year’s Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe.
Fyfe broke his left fibula in the first quarter of Fremantle’s quarterfinal loss to Hawthorn, but remained on the field for the duration of the game. The Dockers star was one of the best on-field, managing 24 disposals and nine clearances.