Ben Miller [merged]

[Andyy]

Good on him. Didn't think he'd make it and he's no superstar but we could do worse.

[one-eyed]

Richmond's 2025 biggest faller: Ben Miller — #129 in 2024 to #235 in 2025 (-106 change)

A depended-on cog in Richmond’s defence, the key backman has a tendency to get caught behind his opponent. Miller’s 1.3 intercept marks are classed as below average among fellow AFL key defenders, while his 3.9 intercept possessions and 1.3 groundball gets are also below average, and his contested defensive one-on-one loss percentage is at a career-worst 25 per cent.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2025-champion-index-analysis-column-stats-every-clubs-biggest-riser-and-faller-player-ratings-harry-sheezel-and-jordan-dawson-down-george-hewett-improvement-latest-news/news-story/8fec663cddc74d43e6693f7cd9768644

[one-eyed]

All Miller, no filler

Richmond was agonisingly close to an upset of epic proportions against GWS on Saturday.

While the Tigers fell over late after inefficient kicking in front of goal, it wasn’t for the efforts of Ben Miller.

The key defender produced a superb lock-away job on Coleman Medallist Jesse Hogan who was held to eight disposals and four marks.

Hogan was also kept goalless having kicked at last one major in 42 straight matches prior.

Miller came up with a team-high nine spoils, took six marks and had 11 touches in a miserly defensive showing against the game’s premier attacker.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2025/06/02/unheralded-the-players-who-deserve-more-credit-for-round-12

Miller, himself, had 11 disposals, six marks, four rebound-50s, five intercepts, 285 metres gained and a team-high nine one-percenters in what was the best performance of his 58-game AFL career.

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1797092/millers-mighty-defensive-display

[Willy]

It must be said, two whipping boys - Miller and Hugo- were very good on the weekend.

[Assange Tiger 😎]

Probably the best game I have seen him play on a fantastic opponent.

HRS did some good things definitely but poo the bed a few times and had a couple of non existent defensive efforts.

[the claw]

Continues to be a bit of an enigma.

His frst half to last year had had me thinking yep this bloke has finally arrived. Then as if shot he fell away terribly in the back half.

Dont know if the long losing season with all the ball coming in to the backline just eventually overwhelmed him i dont know a lot of the game is between the ears.

This year well imo had some pretty decent games but in the main i think he has struggled and then last week although i thought he was decent against essendon, he comes up with possibly the best game of his career.

How do people think his year has gone so far?
Other question is do people think he is a keeper or would they consider a trade if a decent return arose ? Remember we resigned him last year to  2026

I ask the latter because i think we need to sort out what the future is going to be.
Imo we have three potential high quality defenders in Balta, Gibcus injury concerns, Trainer for me more your third tall Grimes type if that makes sense. We have a promising 21 yo old in Gray, do think we need to keep him for now.

That then leaves the following who imo should be open for discussion for trade or delist. Im looking at retaining just two of them as cover injury and depth.
 Miller who is a pretty decent player and very  good depth and may continue to get better, but would have a decent trade value imo.
Young who imo is now superfluous to needs. Very one dimensional imo.
 Kossie who i think has to go given he can not get a game in the current climate.We are playing younger players in front of him.
Last but by no means least Blight who's only knock is possibly his pace. Personally id like another year from him just to see what he can produce and get a better idea of what he may become.

[Andyy]

What about Brown?

I don't see Young getting back into the side.

Balta, Miller, Trainor you'd say are your best options if fit.

Gibcus has shown no promise since his first year. He might return this year but seriously we have nothing to show he'll be a long term contributor at this stage.

Gray, Blight and Young are just depth, long shots VFL structure etc.

[the claw]

What about Brown?

I don't see Young getting back into the side.

Balta, Miller, Trainor you'd say are your best options if fit.

Gibcus has shown no promise since his first year. He might return this year but seriously we have nothing to show he'll be a long term contributor at this stage.

Gray, Blight and Young are just depth, long shots VFL structure etc.

What about Brown i dont classify him as being a kpd if a part of the future is what you are implying then yes i agree.
To me he plays  more like a medium sized general defender along the Broad lines.

The three i think we should keep and prioritise is purely based on talent and upside. they were Balta Gibcus and Trainor. Gray is the other based on age and upside.

Miller atm would be in our top two kpds but there is  a need to look at where you think our youth can get to.
Imo Gibcus first season was sensational better than anything Trainor has produced in his first. No one questions Trainor being a big part of the backline in the future. Atm im not too worried about Gibcus i know he can play.

You could make a good case to keep Miller just in case Gibcus stays injured then the one to trade atm would be Blight.
Like i said we have an abundance of tall defenders.

We just have too many kpd's and the thinking is which ones do i want us to  keep which ones need to go and which ones have a trade value that we could possibly afford to lose.

Atm i think kossie needs to go and Young. I see  Balta, Gibcus, Trainor and Gray as  a part of the long term, and think Miller in particular has good trade value along with Blight. I think one of the latter would be tradeable given the numbers depth and potential we have.

I have no problem if Miller stays he sure provides great competition for spots and cover/depth.He may prove to be a better option than the four i mentioned.  Its just that if we want a decent pick or player swap you have to give up something decent to get it.

I dont envision us challenging until we get a huge number of our list to 80 100 games Millers age in this is also a factor.

This is not me having a go at Ben Miller. I have defended Ben over the years and know the needed consistency most likely will happen
I do see a lot of similarity between him and Liam Jones in the journey travelled.

Mostly here im just looking for peoples thoughts on what they think is the best way to grow the list with 4 or 5 seasons down the track in mind.

[Andyy]

Fair enough re: medium vs tall.

Gibcus...yes we've seen the talent, that's about it. Nothing for two years now. I'm not banking on him personally. Gray and Blight I actually think can both make it.

Miller is one to upgrade eventually. If someone wanted to trade him in I'd consider it (and Young).

[one-eyed]

https://x.com/Ali_Yesilyurt/status/1930200527729766606