Brad Miller (footballer)

Infobox afl player | firstname = Brad
lastname = Miller

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birthdate = birth date and age|1983|7|6|df=y
birthplace = Hobart, Tasmania
originalteam = Mt Gravatt Football Club (QLD)
heightweight = 193cm / 96kg
dead = alive
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = Round 7, 2002
debutteam = Melbourne Football Club
debutopponent = St.Kilda
debutstadium = Melbourne Cricket Ground
playingteams = Melbourne (2002-)

110 Games, 60 Goals
coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend = 2008
careerhighlights =

* Melbourne leading goalkicker 2008

Brad Miller (born 6 July 1983, Hobart, Tasmania [http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:MZNFOEOjdQwJ:www.realfooty.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/25/1090693833767.html+brad+miller+born+in+tasmania&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1] ) is an Australian rules footballer, currently playing with the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League.

Early life

Brad is the son of Neville Miller, who played 30 games with the South Melbourne Football Club. Having spent his early childhood in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Miller moved to Brisbane in Queensland with his family at an early age, where he played rugby league from age 13. On his father's advice, he later tried Australian rules football, ending up at the Mt Gravatt Football Club, where he was scouted by AFL club the Melbourne Demons.

AFL career

Picked at number 55 in the 2001 AFL Draft, Miller carried a reputation and promise of becoming a key position centre half forward in the mould of Wayne Carey or Jonathan Brown.

At the Demons, Miller struggled early to reach his potential at centre half forward, showing promise with 2 goal hauls and taking strong marks, but poor decision making and kicking skills often resulted in turnovers. In some games but with a reputation for disgressions that ended with tribunal appearances and suspensions. A maximum kicking distance of just under 50 metres made Miller an unlikely option for centre half forward.

At times, he was used by coach Neale Daniher in defence, and held down big key opposition forwards like Barry Hall, but was ultimately a second choice in defence behind Nathan Carroll and Ben Holland.

In a game against Richmond in round 17 of 2004, he kicked a rare bag of four goals. He had previously never kicked more than a goal a game.

A slump in form in 2006, saw him play most of the season for the Sandringham Zebras, including an appearance in their premiership side.

While he was still fairly early in his career, the media began speculating that he might be traded to the Brisbane Lions for Jason Akermanis so that Miller could return to his home of Queensland.

When he did return to the senior Demons lineup just before the finals, he was involved in a collision that led to Geelong player Tom Lonergan losing one of his kidneys.

Miller played a best on ground performance in the Demons losing finals game against the Fremantle Dockers in Perth in an impressive performance. Many believe that this saved him from being traded in the pre-season draft.

2008 - a breakthrough year

Miller played what was possibly his best game at the club in Round 7 of the 2008 Season against Fremantle at the MCG.

After the retirement of David Neitz and achilles injury to Russell Robertson, coach Dean Bailey tried a number of options at full forward in a forward line which struggled to kick goals before eventually entrusting the role to Miller. Miller had an immediate impact with bags of 3 goals against Richmond, the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne. He had also shown an impressive increase in goalkicking accuracy.

He came of age when he kicked the winning goal in a career high 4 goal haul against the Brisbane Lions in round 14. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/29/2289066.htm Demons clinch thrilling win over Lions - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) ] ]

Miller finished the year with 26 goals. The fact that this was the highest total by a Melbourne player in 2008 highlighted their forward line struggles.

References

External links

*Melbplayer|ref=14360
*AflRleague|ref=B/Brad_Miller.html