Brad Miller almost a TigerBy Kim Hagdorn
30 November 2010 FORMER Melbourne utility Brad Miller will take vital steps toward officially moving into Richmond colours when he lodges draft nomination documents today.
Miller, 27, looks certain to be a Tigers rookie draft selection on Tuesday December 7.
The versatile big man who can play as a key forward or close-checking defender is not expected to be taken as a pre-season draft pick with the Tigers committed to collecting disgruntled Essendon forward Bachar Houli.
Miller was dumped by Melbourne at the end of last season after he played just six games in 2010 as the Demons headed firmly into a youth policy for plans of a further rebuilding in coming seasons.
Miller looked to have revitalised his stumbling AFL career with a five-goal haul from 11 disposals in Melbourne’s Round 9 win over Port Adelaide in Darwin.
But he managed just three more goals in his next four outings over the next month and was dropped after Round 13 and not recalled before he was dumped from the Demons senior list.
Miller was one of three established Demons who were casualties of Melbourne’s rebuilding plans with respected captain James McDonald, 34, forced to retire and Cameron Bruce, 31, who walked out on broken contract talks.
Bruce is headed to Hawthorn through the pre-season draft and has been training with the Hawks for the past month.
Miller had originally been linked with a possible move to new AFL club Gold Coast with his origins at Mt Gravatt in Queensland.
But he has been training with the Tigers and appears certain to continue his career from Punt Road as a rookie.
The AFL has dramatically relaxed rules regulating rookie selection.
Clubs can have up to six rookies depending on the number of veterans on their senior list.
In 2011 for the first time, rookies can be any age as well as previously been on an AFL club list.
In the past clubs could only have one mature aged rookie over 23, such as Geelong’s 2010 rookie sensation James Podsiadly at 29.
Miller will be a Tigers rookie, while another aged de-listing victim Simon Taylor, 28, has also nominated for the final listing selections of the year.
Taylor's hopes of being taken in the draft appear far less certain.
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