Player Watch #46: Ben Miller - Re-Signed Until 2026

[Morro]

Problem is the way the last 18 months have gone, we just won't have our best 22 match fit and available at the same time unfortunately.

Sad but true

 

[rfctigerarmy]

Problem is the way the last 18 months have gone, we just won't have our best 22 match fit and available at the same time unfortunately.

No team does.

 

[juss]

No team does.

Yes but we haven't lost a handful of depth players, we seem to always be challenged missing players of the Balta, Martin, Cotchin, Vlastuin, etc in the same week, and our depth isn't being carried like we could back in the day.

Teams outside their prime (like us) need everything to go right.

 

[Grrr]

I agree with most of this, except I'd give him a 2 year deal and reassess final year of contract. He's not a player where we need to stave off multiple offers, so 2 year extension should be enough. I think he's shown enough signs, and as a depth KPD he has done enough to be worth keeping on. He's cheap, he's done a solid job, is performing at VFL, is young, good size, and if he can add KPF depth and versatility to his game, he becomes that little bit more valuable too.

I'd be really disappointed if he didn't stay on, and given we are not flushed with good young tall depth, I think we need him to stay until we sort out our KPF situation.

When Broad came onto the scene nobody thought in those initial two odd years that he would become the gun that he is now. He was solid defensively, was quick and rarely marked the ball but had a good defensive spoil. I guess Grimes was much the same. A few years on and look what can happen.

Miller has the physical ability to do what those two do with the ability to play on taller players, if not the great body players like Hawkins. He is not that strong like Rance/Astbury/Tarrant. He is quick, good below his knees and quite good at spoiling. The one thing that has surprised me however is how composed he has been at VFL level. He has rarely wasted a possession (he is a much better kick than either Broad or Grimes), his handball and decision making under pressure has really stood out. Once he adjusts to the speed of AFL he should display similar traits.

He is a keeper for sure and should be given a contract asap. A club like North would be mad not to make a play. Will he fit in this year come finals if we make it, maybe not, but next year given our age demographic he might become a very important player.

 

[Morro]

I reckon the Dogs are the team that will come hard for Miller. They’re desperate for a KPD.

Could we somehow talk them into pick 19 and Miller for Dunkley?

Robbery by us unless they see massive upside in Miller.

 

[Drunken Wookie]

When Broad came onto the scene nobody thought in those initial two odd years that he would become the gun that he is now. He was solid defensively, was quick and rarely marked the ball but had a good defensive spoil. I guess Grimes was much the same. A few years on and look what can happen.

Miller has the physical ability to do what those two did with the ability to play on taller players, if not the great body players like Hawkins. He is not that strong like Rance/Astbury/Tarrant. He is quick, good below his knees and quite good at spoiling. The one thing that has surprised me however is how composed he has been at VFL level. He has rarely wasted a possession (he is a much better kick than either Broad or Grimes), his handball and decision making under pressure has really stood out. Once he adjusts to the speed of AFL he should display similar traits.

He is a keeper for sure and should be given a contract asap. A club like North would be mad not to make a play. Will he fit in this year come finals if we make it, maybe not, but next year given our age demographic he might become a very important player.

He'll be another Astbury given time, with better disposal. Even treading the same development path as David in his early years. Agree we need to lock him in, defenders with his athletic abilities, decision making and skill don't grow on trees.

 

[richoatthedisco]

I don't think he adds anything more.

He's very quick and a beautiful kick. Has begun getting 25-odd touches at VFL level and running off his man.

When Broad came onto the scene nobody thought in those initial two odd years that he would become the gun that he is now. He was solid defensively, was quick and rarely marked the ball but had a good defensive spoil. I guess Grimes was much the same. A few years on and look what can happen.

Miller has the physical ability to do what those two did with the ability to play on taller players, if not the great body players like Hawkins. He is not that strong like Rance/Astbury/Tarrant. He is quick, good below his knees and quite good at spoiling. The one thing that has surprised me however is how composed he has been at VFL level. He has rarely wasted a possession (he is a much better kick than either Broad or Grimes), his handball and decision making under pressure has really stood out. Once he adjusts to the speed of AFL he should display similar traits.

He is a keeper for sure and should be given a contract asap. A club like North would be mad not to make a play. Will he fit in this year come finals if we make it, maybe not, but next year given our age demographic he might become a very important player.

He's been a very slow burn but worth persevering with. Has made decent progress this year.

I reckon the Dogs are the team that will come hard for Miller. They’re desperate for a KPD.

The Dogs are getting Lobb and will move Bruce and maybe Ugle-Hagan back.

We're going to need a KPD too, what with Balta playing forward and all.

He'll be another Astbury

Astbury was a god in the air. Ben won't reach his level of marking, but that doesn't mean he can't be good enough and let Air Gibcus mark everything in sight.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

When Broad came onto the scene nobody thought in those initial two odd years that he would become the gun that he is now. He was solid defensively, was quick and rarely marked the ball but had a good defensive spoil. I guess Grimes was much the same. A few years on and look what can happen.

Miller has the physical ability to do what those two did with the ability to play on taller players, if not the great body players like Hawkins. He is not that strong like Rance/Astbury/Tarrant. He is quick, good below his knees and quite good at spoiling. The one thing that has surprised me however is how composed he has been at VFL level. He has rarely wasted a possession (he is a much better kick than either Broad or Grimes), his handball and decision making under pressure has really stood out. Once he adjusts to the speed of AFL he should display similar traits.

He is a keeper for sure and should be given a contract asap. A club like North would be mad not to make a play. Will he fit in this year come finals if we make it, maybe not, but next year given our age demographic he might become a very important player.

4yrs down the drain is far more telling for a kp than say a mid.
Particularly if you take into account our KP stocks.
Over the next 3yrs we'll lose Jack/ Lunch/Tarrant/Grimes.
Compounding this is our need for quality mids through either the draft or trade.
We need too keep Miller just for list needs alone.

 

[RobsJourney]

How was Miller against Gold Coast?

 

[richoatthedisco]

How was Miller against Gold Coast?

Ok.

 

[Morro]

Ok.

I’m not saying we should let him go mate.

Just that I reckon the dogs will be in his ear

 

[richoatthedisco]

I’m not saying we should let him go mate.

Just that I reckon the dogs will be in his ear

Ok.

 

[Mr Unbelievable]

Ok.

 

[Rioli2Rioli]

When Broad came onto the scene nobody thought in those initial two odd years that he would become the gun that he is now. He was solid defensively, was quick and rarely marked the ball but had a good defensive spoil. I guess Grimes was much the same. A few years on and look what can happen.

Miller has the physical ability to do what those two did with the ability to play on taller players, if not the great body players like Hawkins. He is not that strong like Rance/Astbury/Tarrant. He is quick, good below his knees and quite good at spoiling. The one thing that has surprised me however is how composed he has been at VFL level. He has rarely wasted a possession (he is a much better kick than either Broad or Grimes), his handball and decision making under pressure has really stood out. Once he adjusts to the speed of AFL he should display similar traits.

He is a keeper for sure and should be given a contract asap. A club like North would be mad not to make a play. Will he fit in this year come finals if we make it, maybe not, but next year given our age demographic he might become a very important player.

I would give him 3 years

He is at his cheapest $$$ and would probably sign for $750k for 3 years and at $250k a year is bloody good backup at worst

 

[AstuteTiger]

How was Miller against Gold Coast?

I was happy with his game. He had 9 disposals. 3 marks, 2 tackles, 3 CP's, 6 intercept possessions, 5 rebound 50's, 240 meters gained all at 100%DE

 

[Tomnat Tigers]

I reckon the Dogs are the team that will come hard for Miller. They’re desperate for a KPD.

Could we somehow talk them into pick 19 and Miller for Dunkley?

Robbery by us unless they see massive upside in Miller.

Having been delisted previously Miller will be unrestricted free agent.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

I reckon the Dogs are the team that will come hard for Miller. They’re desperate for a KPD.

Could we somehow talk them into pick 19 and Miller for Dunkley?

Robbery by us unless they see massive upside in Miller.

I think Dogs have a couple of passable key defenders in Keath and Gardner, though the former is getting on a bit at 30yo so they could now do with drafting a key defender. They also have Cordy in reserve. What they badly and urgently lack is an Easton Wood replacement. A Grimes, Lever or Stewart type who can stand a tall player if needed but intercept mark and preferably use the ball well. They tried to fill that void with Tim O’Brien but he is Tim SlowBrien. Miller has footspeed but I don’t think he reads the play or has the reaction time of the good interceptors. Biggy might be more the type they are after but he is probably not quite developed enough for them.

If we wanted Dunkley and he and the Dogs are amenable, I suspect we’d be coughing at least our first round pick. The other things Dogs probably need are a viable second ruck/forward(have their eyes on Lobb it seems) and imo a really speedy small forward, Weightman and West are not the quickest. I am not sure we have the right players to satisfy them, but if we give them the value in picks they can go shopping with the pick/s.

Not sure they have anyone else we could realistically get that we would want either.

Clearly we need an established mid preferably mid 20’s. We probably also need a fringe mid around the same age if we could work out the right one, unless we can somehow secure two decent quality mids. It shapes as an intriguing trade period for us this one.

 

[Grrr]

I think Dogs have a couple of passable key defenders in Keath and Gardner, though the former is getting on a bit at 30yo so they could now do with drafting a key defender. They also have Cordy in reserve. What they badly and urgently lack is an Easton Wood replacement. A Grimes, Lever or Stewart type who can stand a tall player if needed but intercept mark and preferably use the ball well. They tried to fill that void with Tim O’Brien but he is Tim SlowBrien. Miller has footspeed but I don’t think he reads the play or has the reaction time of the good interceptors. Biggy might be more the type they are after but he is probably not quite developed enough for them.

If we wanted Dunkley and he and the Dogs are amenable, I suspect we’d be coughing at least our first round pick. The other things Dogs probably need are a viable second ruck/forward(have their eyes on Lobb it seems) and imo a really speedy small forward, Weightman and West are not the quickest. I am not sure we have the right players to satisfy them, but if we give them the value in picks they can go shopping with the pick/s.

Not sure they have anyone else we could realistically get that we would want either.

Clearly we need an established mid preferably mid 20’s. We probably also need a fringe mid around the same age if we could work out the right one, unless we can somehow secure two decent quality mids. It shapes as an intriguing trade period for us this one.

Think you might be underselling Miller a bit. He is doing in the VFL, given game time he will develop that is the AFL. Broad and Grimes barely took a mark in their first few seasons, good in the air but little intercept marking. It takes a bit longer than just an odd game here or there to have the confidence to leave your man and take the initiative. That's why Gibcus is so impressive, but he did it as a junior, Miller was a forward ruck.

 

[Antzzz]

Miller had to play …. Or we are going to lose another promising player …. I think he will be a player he just needs games …. I’m sick of us losing players to everyone …. Some hard calls need to be made after this season

 

[db26]

Shouldn't get dropped at all if Gibcus comes in the later has been poor of late.

 

[tiger_tough]

I reckon the Dogs are the team that will come hard for Miller. They’re desperate for a KPD.

Could we somehow talk them into pick 19 and Miller for Dunkley?

Robbery by us unless they see massive upside in Miller.

Miller is a delistde free agent for life due to us having cut and re-rookied him once already so no trade necessary. All someone would need to do is guarantee him game time and a couple of years and he'd have to seriously consider walking.

 

[Tackle Bag]

If I’m Miller and I get dropped again when Lynch comes back in, I would be asking to spend time in the ruck in the twos. Give the senior side something different to consider as an alternative to Soldo. If he can play KPD and support Nank in the ruck then he has to be a better option than Soldo who is very limited.

With Balta a virtual lock in one of the key defence posts and Tarrant contracted for another year, Miller needs to add another string to his bow so he can offer flexibility to the senior side in the same way they are currently using Balta.

We did draft him as a ruck/forward after all.

There’s no way he will be happy sitting back for another 12 months while Tarrant gets games that should be his.

 

[Grrr]

If I’m Miller and I get dropped again when Lynch comes back in, I would be asking to spend time in the ruck in the twos. Give the senior side something different to consider as an alternative to Soldo. If he can play KPD and support Nank in the ruck then he has to be a better option than Soldo who is very limited.

With Balta a virtual lock in one of the key defence posts and Tarrant contracted for another year, Miller needs to add another string to his bow so he can offer flexibility to the senior side in the same way they are currently using Balta.

We did draft him as a ruck/forward after all.

There’s no way he will be happy sitting back for another 12 months while Tarrant gets games that should be his.

You might have thought this would have been tried before. I mean with no other forwards in our system for 3 years except perhaps Balta it's not exactly like it's been suddenly sprung upon us.

 

[A Tiger 4 lyf]

He doesn’t know how to read the flight of the ball and make contact between fist and ball

He’s punched air more times than Sherrin



Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Rioli2Rioli]

He doesn’t know how to read the flight of the ball and make contact between fist and ball

He’s punched air more times than Sherrin



Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

He will learn

Keep playing him