Brad Miller boots 6 for Sandringham!

[occo 2]

I dont want danners to play him over and over again for him to drop marks, handball to players under pressure, lose the ball in important areas and kick behinds. I think he needs to have a number of good games...VFL level is 10 times easier than afl and what sort of message is it sending when we must take a player who have been good from the afl team over the past 2 weeks. Bate and Sylvia are doing a good job and we need to increase our % if we wanna make finals! lol bring on the 150 point win lol

[classy dees 42]

Its simple BB. It requires greater skill to play KPF and create the play than it necessarily does to play KPB.

IMO Miller clearly does not have the skill set required to play KPF. His only hope is to make it in AFL is as a KPB. His endeavour, athleticism and his capacity to play body on body offers some glimmer of hope to making it down back.

I'm with you here rhino, well said.

think of him as a tagger for other teams Key Forwards. he gets 6 touches, but they only get 8 and 1 goal ... if that happens we wont have hack morons of the ilk of kingsley, welsh etc kicking massive bags. it may also force these forwards out of the forward 50 in order to get a kick, which is obviously a bonus (e.g. pavlich at the 'G last year where he got 20 odd of the most useles possessions on the HBF/Wing

[Jarka 767]

The problem is that there's better options for the wings. If he plays on the wings we've still got the same problem in that we've got with him playing at CHF anyway, because his delivery in to the forward 50 stinks.

Currently there's vacancies in KPF and KPB posts but with Bate playing the way he is and Rivers to return and Frawley in the wings they're not going to be there for long. Miller's window of opportunity is closing fast.

My first preferance if for him to continue to make way for other more promising players, I only suggested a different position because it's a fair bet that Daniher will give him another opportunity.

[sylvinator 96]

he has the skills, he just doesnt have the footy smarts. his decision making is shizen.

therefore play him in a position where decisions are kept to a minimum.

i.e. guerilla defender (just there to stop the guerillas from touching the ball) or Fullforward (once u mark it go back and shoot for goal...no stupid handpasses and passes)

THATS HOW HE WILL MAKE IT AT AFL LEVEL AGAIN

[Jarka 767]

he has the skills, he just doesnt have the footy smarts. his decision making is shizen.

therefore play him in a position where decisions are kept to a minimum.

i.e. guerilla defender (just there to stop the guerillas from touching the ball) or Fullforward (once u mark it go back and shoot for goal...no stupid handpasses and passes)

THATS HOW HE WILL MAKE IT AT AFL LEVEL AGAIN

He also has a problem with reading the play which while in defence catches him out alot.

[sylvinator 96]

He also has a problem with reading the play which while in defence catches him out alot.

i dont see weher u base that from.

at his best, he is hard working, a strong mark on the lead making an option for us at CHF. he has always done this well and has regularly take more than 10 marks in a game.

the thing that has failed him is his inability to know what to do with the ball once he's got it.

as a defender he doest have to worry about this. however as a CHF, being able to use the ball effectively 80meters out from goal is the most important trait of all!

[Al`s DEMONS 0]

miller has reasonable engine, why cant he play in defence instead of Ward.

[gOLLy 401]

LOL, hilarious thread

What a waste of cyber ink, seriously

Should Miller play back? Forward? The answer is...

WHO CARES

He is finished as an AFL footballer. As far as I am concerend he is not on the MFC list

Cant believe the amount of people that have creamed their pants after he kicked 6 goals in the VFL. LOL.. So Sad

Dunn and Newton should both be selected well before him

Y dont you head down to training and tell him to his face.

Pull your head in goose.

[demonfanjezza 1]

And why would you think I hate Miller?

Because of your constant bagging of him

[Yze_Magic 3]

Because of your constant bagging of him

Righto

Well, whatever floats your boat I guess

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

When Miller has played back he has been even worse than when he's played forward.

I don't care if playing forward is harder or whatever, the fact is that when he has played back he has looked completely lost.

Having said that, I don't think he deserves a spot anywhere in the team.

[Jarka 767]

i dont see weher u base that from.

at his best, he is hard working, a strong mark on the lead making an option for us at CHF. he has always done this well and has regularly take more than 10 marks in a game.

the thing that has failed him is his inability to know what to do with the ball once he's got it.

as a defender he doest have to worry about this. however as a CHF, being able to use the ball effectively 80meters out from goal is the most important trait of all!

He is hard working, but he's terrible at taking contested marks. His game is very one dimensional ie long lead, uncontested mark, handball - The opposition understands this very well and hence he is very easily contained, oh and I almost forgot, I count 8 times he's taken more than 10 marks a game, so with a career total of 85 I wouldn't call that regular - he also hasn't done it once this year.

His poor disposal lets him down alot.

[Jarka 767]

miller has reasonable engine, why cant he play in defence instead of Ward.

He cannot read the play like most natural footballers, he gets lost alot when trying to shadow someone and he also doesn't provide enough drive out of defense in the same was as our other defenders.

[Sir Why You Little 36,630]

Most of you seem too have forgotten Brad's effort in the Final last year against Fremantle. Small minds forget rather Quick. I think its great that Miller got 6 last week For Sandringham. I would keep him back there for a couple more. Work on his Marking and kicking-coz he knows where to lead. He just might get there, I havent forgotten that game last year

[CHAMP 347]

He cannot read the play like most natural footballers, he gets lost alot when trying to shadow someone and he also doesn't provide enough drive out of defense in the same was as our other defenders.

Once the ball hits the deck he seems to get a bit lost. Even on Monday at VFL level I noticed this.

[Little Goffy 14,001]

Round 2 09/04/2007 Hawks 7 10 17 8 0 3 0 0 3 0

Round 3 15/04/2007 Cats 8 7 15 8 0 3 2 1 0 2

Round 4 22/04/2007 Freo 7 8 15 4 0 0 2 1 3 0

Round 5 28/04/2007 Swans 7 10 17 5 0 3 3 0 1 1

That's four pretty solid games in a row from Miller from round 2 - 5.

That's with Neitz and Robbo both out, right?

And of course there's the Fremantle game. Something went right for Miller that night, and we need to bottle it because THAT Miller is worth having on the field every week.

My theory - if he believes it's up to him, he can put in a very good performance. Sometimes I just get the feeling he's waiting for someone to tell him it's his turn. Similar pattern with the "always handball off straight away even if it's a bloody stupid thing to do at that moment" mentality.

Is it possible to get trapped in a 'sacrifice self for team' mentality to the point where you're afraid of getting in a teammate's way or stealing their glory? Could this be a lasting dent in him from being touted as the future captain, way back when he was about 12 years old? (Should we lay-off the Mclean talk?)

Miller has to get closer to goal, get a habit of maniac attack, and stop thinking it's selfish to do it yourself. I'd even say he needs to start playing a slightly more selfish and 'goal-hungry' game.

Encouraging signs from Sandy, but I'd give him a few weeks for him to decide for himself that he's earnt it.

[demonfanjezza 1]

Encouraging signs from Sandy, but I'd give him a few weeks for him to decide for himself that he's earnt it.

Yeah i agree with you on that point. He needs to show the selection committee that he is worth selecting again in the AFL side

[Guest redandbluethruandthru]

My theory - if he believes it's up to him, he can put in a very good performance. Sometimes I just get the feeling he's waiting for someone to tell him it's his turn. Similar pattern with the "always handball off straight away even if it's a bloody stupid thing to do at that moment" mentality.

Is it possible to get trapped in a 'sacrifice self for team' mentality to the point where you're afraid of getting in a teammate's way or stealing their glory?

Very well made point. I agree. Miller needs to be "let loose"

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,360]

Can someone evaluate his game against Kangaroos in round 9 as I missed that one and that was the last game he's been seen in the red and blue.

Is it just a coincedence that our fowardline structure has looked so much more damaging with Sylvia and Bate as our leading half forwards??

[pantaloons 2,019]

If Brad Miller is playing well at Sandringham, this can only be a good thing for Melbourne. Not only as some have mentioned does it keep the forwards currently in the 22 on their toes, but there are other positives. The next 11 weeks will be critical in the football career of Brad Miller. If he sees out the year playing bad fooyt at Sandy then his career is effectively over. If he starts to play every week like he did on Monday, regardless of whether he gets called up to Melbourne or not, he should have earned a reprieve for 2008, whether at the Demons or elsewhere. Playing well will obviously increase his value to us and also to other teams in trade talks.

Personally, I think his best value to Melbourne on-field is as a backman, but he's got to be given time to settle down there. Provided he doesn't see out the season meekly, I'd be surprised if there wasn't some interest expressed by other clubs in his services. At the risk of having Ash shortcircuit his computer with projectile vomit at the thought, someone like Kevin Sheedy has been able to make good use of a number of average recycled players at Essendon, and I reckon he'd find a use for Miler down back, particularly given the age of Fletcher and Michael. Even if Miller continues his career at the Dees, I'd prefer it to be as a backman. The likes of Anthony Ingerson show that occasionally players who underperform at one club can excel in another environment.

[timD 994]

If he was going to play down back it will require a huge amount of specialist couaching and effort put into developing specific skills to complement his attitude. Not impossibe, but pretty hard Ithink. That said I reckon it is a worthwhile project.

[old55 22,793]

Brad Miller clearly has valuable personal attributes that have been in short supply at MFC and that's why he was (prematurely) elevated to the leadership group. He has limitations as a footballer but has the right attitude. It damages our structure playing with him at CHF.

IMO there are two alternatives uses for him:

Plan A. Negating key back for the gorillas: He has the size and sufficient pace to go with most gorillas. He seems to have the character and mental toughness a backman requires to keep his head up meet each contest anew. He doesn't need to be the smartest player or read the ball well, all he needs to do is go with and beat his man ala Presti. Rivers can take care of the zoning and ball-reading. It's easier for him when he gets possession at HB than HF because the ground opens up ahead instead of narrowing and it should be easier to make a decision and maintain possession. He has played down back but has he ever done a full pre-season with the backs? It seems to my limited knowledge that he's trained with the forwards all summer and then been thrown down back . It would be worth putting him with the backline group for the entire pre-season. We could retain Ben Holland to mentor him, Ben is a smart guy and smart footballer and must realise he is in the twilight of his career. Working towards hand-over of the Rocca-Richo roles to Miller over the course of next year may be something Ben can work with. We probably don't have the resources for a specialist coach unless someone does it for free. Ben Holland would be useful on the list anyway and appears to have a very good attitude.

Plan B. Full-forward: He is good on the lead and can take a mark out in front (see Quentin Lynch). If he plays from the goal square and kicks at goal then his slowish decision making will not matter so much. He would provide good defensive pressure like our current FF does. He would need to work on his kicking which is a problem for someone with a history of OP. David Neitz's knee is giving him trouble and he has a limited time left in the game. I'm not as pessimistic as some about this because Robbo does a very convincing imitation of a power forward - leading, pack-marking threat and goal kicking. But it would be very handy if Miller could come through also. I think Newton might make a better CHF than FF, if he makes it.

I reckon we should persist with him in 2008, this year's a bust.

[Kit Walker 225]

Couldn't agree more.

The only thing I'd say in addition is that they need to pick one of those two roles and stick with it. He's not a Cameron Bruce type player that can adapt mid-stream to different roles.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Very good summations Old, Pants and timD. Although I dont think he will make it as a forward.

[Moneyball 0]

miller has reasonable engine, why cant he play in defence instead of Ward.

I don't think you can compare the two. Whether you like him as a player or not Ward is a very quick hard running midfielder/back flank type. His pace is a rare commodity and that's why he get's picked alot...

Miller is trying to be a Key position player.

Obviously Miller struggles in the current setup and he's trying to learn a difficult position. Some would argue KPP's are worth persising with...and Miller has definitely played some good games for MFC and has a good work ethic. Interestingly enough a friend of mine (non-melb supporter) in the '05 season, spent a whole game looking at how far Miller ran...said he was a very hard worker...

in any case I think he still has market value for trading...