Wileman left the ground against Kyabram in round one mid-way through the second term and never returned for the second half.
He had just one tackle, was credited with two clearances and had only eight disposals.
He has not had a single-figure disposal game since and has been among the team’s leading tacklers and clearance players.
A week after the Kyabram game, against second-ranked Seymour, he laid a season-high 11 tackles and had the first of three 20-plus disposal games.
Despite the early setback he has not missed a game this season and is averaging 5.27 tackles a game (20th in the league) and 4.2 clearances.
He is a ball-up clearance specialist, ranked 13th in the league for his 2.67 a game.
Wileman returned to Rochester this year after a season in the Essendon District Football League and his physical approach to the game has been a terrific spoil for number one ball winner Joe Atley.
In the last month (four games), Wileman has laid 23 tackles, been credited with 12 inside 50 entries, collected 24 clearances and 45 contested possessions (from a total of 73).
Wileman is yet to crack 100 ranking points, but has been in the 90s on three occasions and his season-high 96 came in a 23 disposal (12 contested), five clearance, five tackle and five inside 50 game against Shepparton — in teammate Mitch Bright’s 200th game.
He is generally responsible for winning his own ball and has had a double-figure contested possession count in seven games this season, including 15 contested possessions (of a total 16) against Tatura.
Wileman also has three goals to his credit this season.
