The Miller Issue

[Summer Blease 0]

Miller plays best as a lead up forward creating space behind him - something Robbo & Neitz took full advantage of. Thats his big trick; and any side with quality deep forwards would love him in their side. The "dish off" to a running midfielder with good foot skills only enhanced this.

Unfortunately Melbourne "currently", no longer has the forward structure or running midfielders to take advantage of this asset. Till we do (it may be weeks, or months or years away - think of the return/development of Jurrah, Watts, Trengove, Scully, Gysberts, Grimes); I would like to see him play with more aggression, be the protector/enforcer presence supporting our young kids (Their confidence will multiply 10 fold with this type of onfield support). I would also like to see him practice the Jonathon Brown "Mark, wheel and kick" to a one on one - obviously when he's not lining up for goal.

This is the main problem; Miller is a 1 trick pony. He dishes off. Wow. I'm pretty sure any side with quality deep forwards would love someone with more than 1 trick- someone who can find the sticks themselves.

[Demon trucker 1,800]

Agree 100%. We need to take the 'rose couloured glasses' off for once! He is a third tall at BEST, the fact he is in our 22 and has been for the last couple of years says alot about the state we are in. Lets be honest for once- if we were supporting a stronger club Miller wouldn't be the whipping boy- he wouldn't even be on our list!

The best bit of play from miller, is when he crushed the pack, brought the ball to ground and knocked all of the hawthorne player over, and leaving a player free in the goal line, i think it was brad green alone in the goals, that is what miller must do, he must try and contest every time the ball is kicked into the forward 50. he must either mark it or bust the pack, we have lots of fast small forwards to kick goals at ground level, HE MUST make his presence felt and feared, we need to bring the ball into the 50 faster and more often, in the last quarter we got the ball into the forward 50 more often and faster and lord and behold we kicked more goals, footy is a simple game i think we think to much,as kennedy would say don;t think do just do act do and do it fast and often.just do dont think just act

[Jarka 767]

"don't have anyone to replace him"

Anyone can replace him. Miller will never improve and would never get a game in a premiership team.

So i say give his spot to anyone with potential as we won't be worse off

eg. Martin still shows potential

Martin is a terrible forward, he has no idea where to run to or when to time his leads and his kicking is atrocious. So I agree that he should replace Miller as our key forward.

[Sir Why You Little 37,049]

Our problem lies in our lack of quality players.

How good would Medhurst be at Melbourne? How about Mooney at the demons? Mitch Hahn? Daisy Thomas? They'd all be crap as the number 1 forwards.

These players are able to flourish b/c they are mid-tier players who are able to play as mid-tier players. Our mid-tier players are crap b/c they are forced to play as top line players in key positions!

I have no doubt that Jones, Pettard and Bate would be outstanding players if they were surrounded by quality players. Even Miller and Dunn would be servicable if they were the 21st and 22nd best players.

Our only hope of improving is to develop Sylvia, Frawlye, Garland, Scully, Trengove, Grimes, Morton, Jurrah and Watts in to genuine top-liners. Then, players like Pettard and Bate will be great foil.

The real problem is that MFC has a HORRENDOUS history of failing to turn talented players into top liners

One of the Best Posts of the Week...I still expect Dean Bailey to coach his Butt off this week though regardless of the situation on field.

Being aggressive & committed to the Ball is a standard in Australian football regardless of overall talent

[Adzman 2,154]

Miller has the best backman on him every week. Plain and simple, he is a handy forward, not a key forward. He can return to a 2 goal game with some strong marks if we develop a key forward to take the focus of Miller, and the best backman off him.

[arossoukas 0]

Firstly as a new comer to this forum I am tired of constantly reading about how poor Brad Miller is

A couple of points:

1. He is and always will be a lead up CHF who will feed runners past and open up forward line

2. When was the last time he had consistently good delivery to him

3. He runs his guts out weak in weak out

4. Suspensions and lack of confidence from Daniher took his key assets away - strength & intimadation

In 2004 he was fantastic leading up the ground presenting and being physical and I do not need to remind anyone about the 2006 semi-final against Freo

When you have the likes of Jones, Bartram, Bruce, Dunn and Mclean(previously)just to name a few who cannot hit a target from a 10mtrs out how can you possibly play forward for Melbourne

He takes the brunt of all the negativity from our supporters but the real ones know just how significant he is to the side no matter where we are on the ladder

Moving forward he will still be there when the others wont

[Demonic Ascent 0]

Firstly as a new comer to this forum I am tired of constantly reading about how poor Brad Miller is

A couple of points:

1. He is and always will be a lead up CHF who will feed runners past and open up forward line

2. When was the last time he had consistently good delivery to him

3. He runs his guts out weak in weak out

4. Suspensions and lack of confidence from Daniher took his key assets away - strength & intimadation

In 2004 he was fantastic leading up the ground presenting and being physical and I do not need to remind anyone about the 2006 semi-final against Freo

When you have the likes of Jones, Bartram, Bruce, Dunn and Mclean(previously)just to name a few who cannot hit a target from a 10mtrs out how can you possibly play forward for Melbourne

He takes the brunt of all the negativity from our supporters but the real ones know just how significant he is to the side no matter where we are on the ladder

Moving forward he will still be there when the others wont

As supporters we expect a CHF to be able to take contested marks and kick goals.

[deehughman 10]

miller needs to get physical allmost to the point of becoming a sniper

he needs to basically go and grab the loose man in defence and tell him if you get in the space I am going to take you out. then do it! I dont care if its late. the ball comes out of our forward line so quick that our defence who are pretty good one on one have no chance.

get out a video tape of aaron hamill, same body size, not very skilled, but he could tackle, harass defences and never fell over.

[drdrake 3,178]

Miller needs our midfield to get the footy inside 50 more than 44 times a match, with speed and pin point passing. WE are always jumping on this guy but we have been very very bad in our transit from defense to attack. Of the 44 inside 50's we had last week I wonder how many where quality and how many were bombs or bad disposals.

We cant blame any of opur forwards until we start getting the ball to them more and better.

[Summer Blease 0]

I just hate the fact that for Miller to be 'at his best' the team has to be at their best. What ever happened to initiative? Brad's toughness left with Neitz- he doesn't impose himself in any shape or form on the contest. I barely even knew he was there round 1- Miller can't shine if he's being depended on to shine because he is not a leader he is a second in command, and seeing as we have no chief Miller retains his spot through circumstance, not design.

Once again, Miller isn't AFL quality- If a link player or a 'give and go' man is what your after, sure.. i'd rather someone who can do that (like every CHF) and also find the sticks themselves, not miss from 30 out- or shows some actual leadership and imposes themselves on a contest. Miller goes missing too much.

[Demonic Ascent 0]

Miller needs our midfield to get the footy inside 50 more than 44 times a match, with speed and pin point passing. WE are always jumping on this guy but we have been very very bad in our transit from defense to attack. Of the 44 inside 50's we had last week I wonder how many where quality and how many were bombs or bad disposals.

We cant blame any of opur forwards until we start getting the ball to them more and better.

Yeah but Millers been crap for years. The final straw for me was in the Elimination Final 2006 vs Saints when he missed from 20 metres on a slight angle from a set shot.

A KPF needs to be able to kick goals otherwise they are just taking up space and oxygen.

[Steamin Demon 392]

Simply, Miller is not the answer either is Newton. We can argue semantics all night but if Jurrah and my mate Mr Watts don't stand up we will be in a whole world of pain.

[Demonic Ascent 0]

Simply, Miller is not the answer either is Newton. We can argue semantics all night but if Jurrah and my mate Mr Watts don't stand up we will be in a whole world of pain.

Yep Watts as a KPF, Jurrah as a third tall; we need another tall forward option. Maybe Garland if he can get himself right.

[arossoukas 0]

As supporters we expect a CHF to be able to take contested marks and kick goals.

Umm hello a CHF to take contested marks and kick goals hey??

Are you from the 80's???

Once again Miller has been made a scapegoat

[Sir Why You Little 37,049]

Umm hello a CHF to take contested marks and kick goals hey??

Are you from the 80's???

Once again Miller has been made a scapegoat

Jonathon Brown does it in the modern game-Reiwoldt does it

what have the 80's got to do with this topic

[QueenC 74]

Jonathon Brown does it in the modern game-Reiwoldt does it

And the very simple reality is that Miller does not measure up.....

This argument is not that complicated, he is what we have, for better or worse right now, and generally is a very hard working, honest albeit

less skilled footballer who unfortunately will never win you a game off his own boot. He is not that guy, he has never been that guy and he will be that guy.

That is his and our reality right now. His work ethic and determination is excellent for the kids to learn from and for that reason he is useful.

But in the end he will be surpassed by those kids when then are ready to do so. However until that point in our future he (and Newton) is what we have.

But lets not pretend that he has not been scapegoated, abused and maligned on here for years. He is not the best, so lets not expect him to be it.

Lets hope that if (when) he gets back in he does his best and keeps the seat warm for some of our kiddies who will take over when they are ready.

That is his role, work hard, try hard and lose his place when Watts can actually take over (and I don't mean necessarily this season either, Jack will

need some protection out there, and Miller again is what we have for that as well.) Hopefully last weeks performance will be his worst (and it was awful) but

lets not get caught in that rut again by expecting Brad Miller to shape our future, he can't, he isn't skilled enough to do so.

But he is what we have right now, and we have to just deal with that until it isn't the case any longer.

[The Great One 99 125]

I blame Pia for Miller's demise. Remember how he use to at least play with some aggression? Now he runs around like a contented bull.

Yes, Pia should leave Brad. I will take care of her. For the sake of the club of course

[Adam The God 30,272]

Way too much focus on the perennial "whipping boy" Miller! Seems some posters think that if the MFC moved Miller on that all MFC woes would be over and we would fly up the ladder somehow.

Miller certainly has his limitations however has many strong qualities that are of value to the MFC and that the coaching staff recognise.

There are just way too many threads about Miller ,filled with posters constantly bagging him. What is the value in this negative fixation with Miller? Move on!

Fair enough comment, however he must keep his spot due to our limited resources. If we had a Roughead and Franklin, there would be no need for a Miller. I can understand people (including myself) being frustrated with a certain player.

[Felix 92]

Question - Would Miller prosper at a club like Geelong or St Kilda?

[Adam The God 30,272]

He might have a higher confidence level, but I don't think he would ever be any better than he was when Neita was around.

[Felix 92]

We really do need another Neitz.

[Farmer Jeff 0]

Umm hello a CHF to take contested marks and kick goals hey??

Are you from the 80's???

Once again Miller has been made a scapegoat

Umm hello, I suggest that you go back through all the premiers in the 2000s (not the 80s)and check the value of their CHFs and their contested marking/goal kiking ability.

With respect to Miller he gives his all, but he is just not up to it and was overated from the start. He is not solely responsible for the team's woes in terms of being a scapegoat, however he has been consistently bad and on a good day just average. I know its been done to death, but besides that final against FREMANTLE where he took a number of non-contested marks up the ground, I can not easily recall one other valuable performance.

[Adam The God 30,272]

Another Neita would be great, but it's a different game now to what it was in the early to mid 2000s, when he was tearing teams apart. Still, I certainly wouldn't say no.

[Roost It 1,434]

Morton, Watts, Jurrah, and Bate is the plan for our forward line. If they come on as expected then we'll have very little to worry about. Throw in Petterd and one of Maric or Wonaeamirri. Rotate Sylvia, Trengove and Scully through there and we'll be kicking the 15 - 20 goals a game that we need. That still leaves us with Garland and Green to help out.

Edited April 2, 2010 by Roost It

[jnrmac 20,104]

Miller needs our midfield to get the footy inside 50 more than 44 times a match, with speed and pin point passing. WE are always jumping on this guy but we have been very very bad in our transit from defense to attack. Of the 44 inside 50's we had last week I wonder how many where quality and how many were bombs or bad disposals.

We cant blame any of opur forwards until we start getting the ball to them more and better.

If we get the ball in 44 times its imperative that the ball is kept in there until we score. That shaw ain't happening.