I think everyone on this site would agree that if Miller doesn't perform this year he will be traded/delisted at the end of the year. His career is at the cross roads.

Being at the game on Saturday i noticed a few things.

Firstly that not only Frosty but the whole team was playing very close to goal. Personally the best game i have seen Brad Miller play was against Collingwood when he took 10+ marks on the wing, and that is exactly what are team missed. The link man. I have no doubt that if Miller doesnt fill the role this year Dunn will next year. However one position that doesnt look like being cemented by any player is Centre Half Back. We all saw how Brad Miller play on Barry Hall last year. He did have some bad games after that at CHB, but for the team and for Frosty would it not be best to see him play at CHB. Lets be honest we will never win a flag with either Ben Holland(dud), or Rivers(undersized) in that position. We need to stick the first half of the season with Frosty at CHB look at it as a learning experience that will benifit the club in the long term.

Until next time

DD

Sadly I don't think Miller has the football brain to play in the backline and his performance against Hall has been greatly overrated on this forum. The facts are that Hall had the highest shots at goal out of both teams and it was only poor kicking that didn't result in him kicking a big bag. Miller gets lost in the backline.

Not sure I agree with you completely.

On the Miller subject, I agree, he is no CHB or CHF and frankly I see no spot for him in our team. When you talk about Holland and Rivers though, I think you are selling them short. Rivers especially. Lets not forget he is a Rising Star winner, who held down CHB that year with a grossly undersized body. That body is now developed to the point where he can match it with stronger taller players. He is exactly the player we want at CHB if we are to win a premiership. On Holland, are you forgetting how well he played last year? He was an integral part of our defence and if not for him, we may well have lost more games. Ideally, his position is probably under threat from Bizzell, but for now ... he deserves his spot in the team.

  dees_rule_4eva said:

On Holland, are you forgetting how well he played last year? He was an integral part of our defence and if not for him, we may well have lost more games. Ideally, his position is probably under threat from Bizzell, but for now ... he deserves his spot in the team.

Yep. Holland and Bizzell should be on a rotation policy dependent entirely upon if there's a match-up for Holland or not.

  demondomination said:

I think everyone on this site would agree that if Miller doesn't perform this year he will be traded/delisted at the end of the year. His career is at the cross roads.

Being at the game on Saturday i noticed a few things.

Firstly that not only Frosty but the whole team was playing very close to goal. Personally the best game i have seen Brad Miller play was against Collingwood when he took 10+ marks on the wing, and that is exactly what are team missed. The link man. I have no doubt that if Miller doesnt fill the role this year Dunn will next year. However one position that doesnt look like being cemented by any player is Centre Half Back. We all saw how Brad Miller play on Barry Hall last year. He did have some bad games after that at CHB, but for the team and for Frosty would it not be best to see him play at CHB. Lets be honest we will never win a flag with either Ben Holland(dud), or Rivers(undersized) in that position. We need to stick the first half of the season with Frosty at CHB look at it as a learning experience that will benifit the club in the long term.

Until next time

DD

i agree with u that id he doesnt perform he will possibly be delisted/traded. Miller is a CHF and when he plays well i belive melbourne look at their best.he will play most games this year and i believe he will prove himself. i wouldnt mind seeing Dunn and miller playin on the same team, like the sound of alot of big leading forwards.

Ben Holland a dud EY?

doesnt matter if ur a superstar or a Dud as long as u go out there and do ur job, in a backmans case restrict their opponent as much as possible and bennie boy did his job on many occasions last year when put down back. Rivers has played football as a backman for how long i think he is use to playin on taller opponents. if the match us doesnt suit melb are versatile

Bizzel, holland, Carrol, dare i say wheatley

Miller cant play down back. he cant play that position naturally. maybe this is the reason he is so inconsistant , constantly trying to adjust to back then moved forward next week. i would rather see him traded to another side and get another player than play him in the backline. he is just not suited to that role

how many learning experiences can we give him before we realise ok he simply isnt up to playing CHB or CHF? hes been tried down back plenty of times...for extended periods too.

  Don24 said:

how many learning experiences can we give him before we realise ok he simply isnt up to playing CHB or CHF? hes been tried down back plenty of times...for extended periods too.

has anyone ever noted that miller is a little undersized for chf

  loges said:

has anyone ever noted that miller is a little undersized for chf

I dont think so....

Miller 194cm/96kg

Lucas 192/98

Perrie 193/100

Hansen 198/95

Franklin 196/99

Cloke 195/89

Mooney 195/99

Miller has the physical attributes. That's not the issue.

I would think that like any player at any club its put up or get out. Miller played ok toward then end of last season. I'm just thankful most of you (including me) is not a selector or coach.......

You know you're in trouble when you're in your 5th maybe 6th year and ppl r still arguing if the boy can play or not.

I think with brad miller, it's the case of which is the lesser of 2 evils? Which position would he sux the least at.

CHF is the position he least sux at.

He was a pedestrian on the weekend against Richmond. Apart from a couple of marks from around 60 metres out, he was barely sighted. Add that with an almost donut like game in the NAB game V Hawthorn and the signs are concerning.

Having said that I'd play him Rd 1 V Saints, as he plays his best footy at the MCG (he was very good against Roos and St.K late last year at the G)

Dont let me start about Miller. If i have an issue with Neitz then it goes without saying. This is millers last chance....i will commend him if he becomes a regular player by seasons end. However the sight looks dismal.From the games he has played during pre season he has shown inability to kick goals, take marks (even uncontested) and pace. I would start Dunn in the starting 22. Dunns body is not as well built but he kicks goals and can inspire his teammates as he is a youngster. He has a punishing kick and good pace. Read in the Herald before about his social work and the fact that Danners wants him to play in the forward pockett and midfield. Personally i would keep him out of the midfield as we have enough players who can fulfill that possition...but not enough dead eye shots like him. Dunn will certainly need a rest and a go in the reserves -as i think Jones will need so when this happens i would put Miller at CHF.

We assess at the end of the year. Too early for trade talks but we might get something for a straight swap of Miller and Sylvia...who knows.

Dunn to start in the 22 till his performance drops.

Look, i have to admit that i'm worried about what Miller's going to give us this year, but i say he's still in our 22 for round one. Last year he was ravished by the dreaded OP, like Sylvia and Moloney. In that final against Freo, he showed me he still has a passion to for Melbourne, it was the hardest i've ever seen him work. I'm not saying that one game gives him a three year contract, but i think that he'll given a fair enough oportunity to prove himself again.

I'd also like to say that i think there's a spot for both Miller and Dunn in our side, they play a much different style of football. With Dunn being forward flanker that plays quite close to goal and Miller being more of a link man in the CHF position. However, Miller i'm sure will admit that his career is at the cross-roads and if he doesn't perform this year, i can't see him being in the Red and Blue for 2008.

Face it, he was picked in the 50's

He has done well to play so many games

  Yze_Magic said:

Face it, he was picked in the 50's

He has done well to play so many games

That's it. I think we are stuck with Miller for the moment until Dunn can fulfill the role or why find someone else on our list that can. We really need someone that can fill that position, it would make a world of difference.

Miller played well in the final last year against Freo, but was fairly ineffectiev as most of his marks were taken up the ground. And I am of the opinion that he has little or no football brain and cannot take a contested mark. He'd be much better suited as a defender for those who remember he towelled up Barry Hall last year. We made a mistake not trying to off-load him last year whilst he still had some trade value.

But what other options do we have? PJ? no. Dunn is not developed enough to play the position and to be honest I'm not sure why people are assuring themselves he will be answer in a year or so. Someone that honestly could play the position given pratice is Bate - he's tall, strong and has exceptional pace off the mark. He just needs to work on his endurance.

  Anders said:

That's it. I think we are stuck with Miller for the moment until Dunn can fulfill the role or why find someone else on our list that can. We really need someone that can fill that position, it would make a world of difference.

Miller played well in the final last year against Freo, but was fairly ineffectiev as most of his marks were taken up the ground. And I am of the opinion that he has little or no football brain and cannot take a contested mark. He'd be much better suited as a defender for those who remember he towelled up Barry Hall last year. We made a mistake not trying to off-load him last year whilst he still had some trade value.

But what other options do we have? PJ? no. Dunn is not developed enough to play the position and to be honest I'm not sure why people are assuring themselves he will be answer in a year or so. Someone that honestly could play the position given pratice is Bate - he's tall, strong and has exceptional pace off the mark. He just needs to work on his endurance.

Bate doesn't need stamina, he needs experience. Not a dumb suggestion by any means, just give him time.

Being picked in the 50s shouldnt have any bearing on a player. Look at Batram. In 2-3 years will we be saying "well he was a late pick, so we dont expect much of him". No. He has the talent, and we've seen that already. Same with Miller. There's a reason he was being talked up as a future captain and leader. He has had a poor year and abit, but if he gets his mind on the job at hand, regains his aggression that's disappeared, he will be fine. Wont be great, but he will do. Dunn will overtake him in the future IMO, but for now we should have Miller leading up the ground from CHF and hope he kicks a few more goals along the way. Dunn can be swapped in there in bursts, or play leading from closer to goal or further up the wing.

gee..its started early this year.....

Miller.. Physically capable..

Miller... mentally not there. ....and by that I mean ...not that he's a fool or anything..he's not.. but he seriously doesnt have the mettle to back himself in the role of CHF... he always places himslef where he doesnt need to kick..or go for goal.. I really think he just doesnt like it. On the few abberant days he has..he has shown a whole different side...a good side . But it just vanishes and the bad ol' Miller style creeps back.

You CANNOT have someone up the front half of the ship who is goal shy!!... other teams know he is..and allow him to move away from the goals..after all what damage does he do then??...instead of linking e actually adds another kick into the equation and its often that one kick too many, time for a flood etc. He costs us !!