It's Miller timeBy Paul Daffey
afl.com.au
Fri 13 Apr, 2012TWO YEARS ago Brad Miller seemed washed up as an AFL footballer. He'd played only six games with Melbourne for the season and he'd spent the rest of the time with VFL affiliate Casey Scorpions.
Melbourne offered to play him in the final round as a farewell but Miller couldn't see the point. He'd played most of the season with the Scorpions so he preferred to play in their qualifying final against North Ballarat.
"I thought it was all over," Miller said. "I'd started preparing for life after AFL footy."
Miller had undertaken a coaching course through the AFL Players Association, working with highly regarded strategist David Wheadon.
Then came an unexpected turning point.
Richmond football manager Craig Cameron had been on the football staff at Melbourne. When Cameron was at the Demons he admired Miller's aggression and leadership.
Given that Richmond would enter the 2011 season with a young list that needed guidance and protection, he encouraged the Tigers to draft Miller, who was then 27.
The Tigers took him with the No. 28 selection in the 2011 rookie draft.
Miller played 16 games in his first season at Tigerland, bringing his career tally to 147. On Saturday, when the Tigers take on his old club, Melbourne, he'll run out on to the MCG for his 150th game.
"I'm glad I got a second crack," he said.
Miller has played at both clubs as a lead-up forward. He's hard-working and he relishes contests, but wonky kicking has been a mark against him.
At Richmond he's had to work on doubling back to ease the congestion that is now a feature of AFL forward lines.
Richmond forward coach Mark Williams said Miller's bodywork is vital.
"He's super important because of the way he plays," Williams said.
"He does the basics really well, he directs traffic, he contests really well, he's aggressive, and he's a good sounding board for the coaches."
When Miller was asked to name the strongest feature of his game, he didn't nominate kicking or marking or splitting packs. His strongest feature is his ability "to play a role".
While he was unwilling to be specific about that role, it's clear he gets a lot of satisfaction out of blocking and shepherding and clearing avenues to goal.
"I've really found a niche," Miller said. "I'm playing the way the coaches want me to play."
Miller played 133 games and kicked 89 goals for Melbourne. He said the highlight of his career with the Demons was playing in finals.
His first final was against Essendon in 2004: "It was a real buzz to run out on the MCG in front of a big, finals crowd."
He has great fondness for the day the Demons defeated St Kilda in an elimination final in 2006.
The next week Fremantle defeated Melbourne in their semi-final at Patersons Stadium. Miller was clearly Melbourne's best player, leading up time and again to take the ball before giving it off.
He was reluctant to name his best game, but that performance against Fremantle must go close.
His highlight at Richmond has been kicking the first goal in his first game with the club, against Collingwood in round four last year.
"It was a great way to start," he said.
Miller has never been particularly renowned as a goalkicker even if he did win Melbourne's goalkicking award in 2008 with 26.
His biggest haul is five, which he kicked against Port Adelaide in round nine, 2009.
Last week he confirmed that he's in handy form when he kicked four of Richmond's eight goals in its 21-point loss to Collingwood.
"He's finally getting reward for his effort," Williams said.
Even after kicking a relative bag, Miller maintained the line that he's happy just to play his role. It's the type of sentiment that would please Richmond coach Damien Hardwick.
"He's one of those guys who's a bit unassuming," Hardwick said. "He blocks his opponents, his defensive pressure's good, he does a lot of things that go unnoticed in media circles.
"He's a warrior for us."
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