i dont know if anyone else saw this but wattz and miller play well together.

if miller can kick 2-3 goals a game he is worth keeping

he made wattz a stronger player today

he wasnt scared to do anything

melb should have won by a few goals but ill take that win anyday!!!!

i dont know if anyone else saw this but wattz and miller play well together.

They both appeared to have good games individually. I might have to watch a replay - I didn't notice a lot of them working "together".

I thought I observered them both playing out of position a lot, but I couldn't get a lot of perspective from the foxtel coverage.

Amazing. His best game for the Dees and a major part of the win and you have him gone.

Where did I write that? I'm stoked he took his opportunity, but he's been in and out of the side for 8 years and I just don't think his career at Melbourne can survive another slump.

Brad Miller's previous best football was played 4-5 years ago when we were last contesting finals. He is perhaps a handy player only, but he can also be a leader and a presence. Tonight he also proved that a forward who is even just a reasonable footballer can be something of a matchwinner when some good delivery comes his way. In the last 2-3 years, all our forwards have been on the end of some shocking and haphazard forays into the inside 50.

Franklin and Roughead were unstoppable in 2008 but now since the Hawk midfield has become just a relic of that time, they too have been reduced to mere mortals.

If our midfield continues to develop and deliver, then repeats of Miller's performance tonight is not out of the question. His role as an enforcer and leader down there is also important to pave the way for a developing Watts and the indigenous mosquito fleet to do their magic. In this regard he is better than a Bate or Dunn.

With Liam Jurrah to return at some stage, hopefully this year, Bate to come back soon and Dunn thereabouts, pressure will be on for any incumbent to perform.

Miller performed at Casey and was rewarded when an opening came. He performed well tonight and will obviously hold his place. Matthew Bate, if fit, will need to replace someone else without upsetting team balance or play for Casey next week.

It's a great situation to be in, in an area of the ground that has long been our achilles heel, underpinned by adding much needed class to what had been a second rate midfield. The team is now capable of executing the game plan that Bailey has been introducing for the past two years.

We now just need to do it consistently. Bring on the Cats!

Well all you Miller haters! 5 goals was tonight a match winning contribution.

Meh. If he can do the same thing twice in the next 5 games I will change my tune and eat my words but until then...

A very Solid Game last night Brad Miller-Absolutely well done.

Credit deserved

Yeah i had my doubts.. but well done Millers..

Has 100% been vindicated.

For as long as it lasts............Go frosty!!!

Has 100% been vindicated.

Nope. Not even close. And I think you'd find even he would agree with that.

He needs a VERY solid last half to 2010 to be called "vindicated."

The good thing for him is, with a PB straight after he returned, that's bought him the next few weeks to give it his best shot.

He should look at Sylvia though. Time out for a few weeks, he comes back and kicks a PB of 5 goals, plays well for the next 2 weeks, then has three weeks of crappy form.

Even for one in his prime and as talented as Sylvia, form comes and goes.

They both appeared to have good games individually. I might have to watch a replay - I didn't notice a lot of them working "together".

I thought I observered them both playing out of position a lot, but I couldn't get a lot of perspective from the foxtel coverage.

But they did not compete for the same ball through out the night, I think only once.

that is working together and knowing where the other big forward is and if need be putting yourself in a worse position to give your team mate a better shot at getting the ball.

The most pleasing thing about Millers game is he played a lot closer to goal, which meant two things. He did not handball at 100mph to a guy 2 meters away and he had to kick goals, which he did and did so with very nice looking kicks, which to be honest I think that was his best kicking game ever!

I just hope Mills stars in the 2nd half and sticks it up a few.

Miller's best game was against Freo in 2008 when we came back from the dead. He did things in that game that really good footballers do, not just lead, mark and kick. He bumped opposition players over, wheeled onto his right foot, kicked with purpose and played with a fluency that I hadn't seen from him before. I really thought he became a footballer that day but sadly, it was just a day out. I do hope he can do it again.

Edited May 23, 201015 yr by btdemon

Was a good call to bring him in. IMO its good having there for Watts, Lets hope he plays well against the cats ?

Miller and Watts give us 2 tall mobile forwards and Miller provides good protection for Watts from loonies like NMs Scott Thompson. They can line up in the key positions and move Bate to the flank. The three can then mix and match during the game. They will also push Jurrah out to another flank when he returns.

Watts may be a blessing in disguise for MIller , whose career was looking grim after round one. Watts needs a mentor and protector for the next 2-3 years while he builds up his body and engine. Miller could be our best option.

Edited May 23, 201015 yr by DirtyDees DDC

Miller and Watts give us 2 tall mobile forwards and Miller provides good protection for Watts from loonies like NMs Scott Thompson. They can line up in the key positions and move Bate to the flank. The three can then mix and match during the game. They will also push Jurrah out to another flank when he returns.

Watts may be a blessing in disguise for MIller , whose career was looking grim after round one. Watts needs a mentor and protector for the next 2-3 years while he builds up his body and engine. Miller could be the best option.

A good Miller playing well is always in our best 22. He provides a much needed target and adds height and muscle, however playing good consistent footy has always been his problem and thats why he frustrates everyone.

So Lets see his effort this week coming. i hope he can keep producing.

with watts and sylvia generally playing CHF type roles I thought miller was allowed to stay closer to goal last night.

while one of his strengths has obviously been his lead up marking style play, this has also been one of his weaknesses because he hasn't had the quality of disposal to either kick goals or use the ball when that far out.

allowing him to play close to goal means he can use his other attributes such as strength in contests etc and reasonably good kicking for goal (over 35m) to his advantage.

could he find a position as a full forward rather than a CHF for the next few years?

Has 100% been vindicated.

For as long as it lasts............Go frosty!!!

This depends what you're referring to. Yes, his selection in the team was most certainly 100% vindicated. He earned that spot with hard work and good form, he then followed it up with a very good performance. However, his spot on the list beyond this year is far from vindicated. I really like Brad, he works as hard as anybody, he's a leader, and he's a hell of a great bloke. He needs to serve up what we saw last night on a more regular basis to get a new contract. I really hope when he doesn't kick 5 next week, in a game we're going to struggle in badly, everyone doesn't turn on him again and call for his head. He's earned a few weeks to prove his ongoing worth.

Meh. If he can do the same thing twice in the next 5 games I will change my tune and eat my words but until then...

Exactly! Not the first time hes had a good game. Problem is he follows it up with 10 rubbish ones.

Brad Miller is not a part of our future, yes he had a good game last night but he has been too inconsistent with his performances throughout his career. I hope that he can continue to play well but he is just trade bait at the end of the year. In a couple of years, he will not be a part of our best 22.Send him off to Gold Coast.

Amazing. His best game for the Dees and a major part of the win and you have him gone.

why surprised when he strings together consistent football over a season then he can be considered long term, until then it is just another flash in pan

Miller has always been valuable as a leading marking forward. What has constantly let him down is his kicking especially for goal. Last night his kicking for goal was excellent. I remember reading in a recent post on one of the Casey games that Brad seemed to have improved his kicking for goal. Last night he and Watts performed a good double tall act on the forward line surrounded by the smalls. I think he could be a useful player as long as he continues with the form he showed that night. Jurrah, when he gets back, can always play forward pocket or half forward flank.

This depends what you're referring to. Yes, his selection in the team was most certainly 100% vindicated. He earned that spot with hard work and good form, he then followed it up with a very good performance. However, his spot on the list beyond this year is far from vindicated. I really like Brad, he works as hard as anybody, he's a leader, and he's a hell of a great bloke. He needs to serve up what we saw last night on a more regular basis to get a new contract. I really hope when he doesn't kick 5 next week, in a game we're going to struggle in badly, everyone doesn't turn on him again and call for his head. He's earned a few weeks to prove his ongoing worth.

Well said and on the money.

I hope that he can continue to play well but he is just trade bait at the end of the year. In a couple of years, he will not be a part of our best 22.Send him off to Gold Coast.

Yep we'll pull in a big fish with that "trade bait". Trade bait = represents one side of a trade deal where MFC gets a great deal and the other club duds itself big time by chasing a player who is a fringe player at MFC with significant limitations at AFL level but offers an unbelievable draft pick in return.

Chook?

McLean is a solid meat and veg midfielder that will never be a star but might build a role in a side like Carlton.

I cant recall many posters saying we should trade him last year... Mind you MFC got KOTD when Carlton gave pick 11. Go Gysberts

My issue is that some posters would think Simon Buckley was worthy "trade bait" to pull a very good draft pick.

McLean is a solid meat and veg midfielder that will never be a star but might build a role in a side like Carlton.

I cant recall many posters saying we should trade him last year... Mind you MFC got KOTD when Carlton gave pick 11. Go Gysberts

My issue is that some posters would think Simon Buckley was worthy "trade bait" to pull a very good draft pick.

Some were hesitant to let Buckley go!

Was it only me or did Miller look like he has leaned up quite a bit. He has been muscled up for a long while but I really thought he looked like he has leaned that muscle down. Maybe this is helping him being able to get a few steps on defenders when he seemed to struggle getting that seperation in the past.

His goal kicking was spot on last night here is hoping he can continue the form.