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

[TigerImposter]

His and the rest of our backs defensive structure has fallen down as our midfield changed in the back half of the year to those that apply little defensive pressure .

YEP. Midfield and Wings with Prestia, JGTI, Hopper. Taranto, Dow and KMAC all rotating are going to kill any structure in the BL. I watched our BL yesterday and Balta, Rioli and Short actually refused to man their opponents. They played to heavy Forward and Miller , Broad anf Flossy were caught out by being one or two men short. We have been poorly coached as well with no game plan or any methodology to cooperate as a team. It just appeared to me all year there were a dozen selfish footballers in the team.

 

[panatha1908]

YEP. Midfield and Wings with Prestia, JGTI, Hopper. Taranto, Dow and KMAC all rotating are going to kill any structure in the BL. I watched our BL yesterday and Balta, Rioli and Short actually refused to man their opponents. They played to heavy Forward and Miller , Broad anf Flossy were caught out by being one or two men short. We have been poorly coached as well with no game plan or any methodology to cooperate as a team. It just appeared to me all year there were a dozen selfish footballers in the team.

This. I think some players like short and rioli haven't really adapted to us not being a great team. They still want to play loose and attacking but at this stage we need them manning up a bit more as we lose more contests than we win.

 

[fargothegreat]

Need to develop a replacement for this bloke. Regressed badly in the second half of the year and is getting outmarked way to easily by blokes far smaller than him.

 

[sante]

He’s still better than Young. In a settled backline with Balta and Gibcus, I think he will be fine. He ended the season poorly, but was one of our most improved half way through the year. It’s a good building block moving into to pre season.

 

[fargothegreat]

He’s still better than Young. In a settled backline with Balta and Gibcus, I think he will be fine. He ended the season poorly, but was one of our most improved half way through the year. It’s a good building block moving into to pre season.

He's weak one on one, and not an interceptor. Leaves very few roles for him to play.

 

[Lord of the Wings]

He’s still better than Young. In a settled backline with Balta and Gibcus, I think he will be fine. He ended the season poorly, but was one of our most improved half way through the year. It’s a good building block moving into to pre season.

He ain’t better than anyone. I could get the fat fullback from Bunyip 2nds and he’d do better than Miller

 

[sante]

He ain’t better than anyone. I could get the fat fullback from Bunyip 2nds and he’d do better than Miller

So his good form during the season means nothing because he ended the season poorly like most players?

 

[Woodstock]

Should be playing Blight ahead of Miller.

 

[Hank Heavenly]

Getting out "muscled" by Lukoscious was embarrassing, multiple times

 

[Grrr]

Getting out "muscled" by Lukoscious was embarrassing, multiple times

Well Lukosciou is a fair player. Kept him to 2 marks and 7 possessions, which is a pretty crap game for him. I thought Miller wasn't as bad yesterday as previous weeks. I think he is suffering from long season at the bottom of the ladder itis. This is his first full season as a key back, should be better for getting through the year and not being dropped or asked to play forward, ruck etc.

 

[Charlie Pannam]

Should be playing Blight ahead of Miller.

I thought the same initially, but Blight needs a big preseason, the speed of the game found him out

 

[energyquant]

I assume the "sack Miller" crowd are the same supporters who wanted to get rid of Dave Astbury.

He was exhausted after a long season and he didn't finish strongly. He's hardly Rob Crusoe there.

Miller is coming into his prime. He's better than McKay at Essendon. He'll be a very solid player for us in 2025.

 

[tiger_tough]

Had a poor ending to the season but a big step forward overall. Should be solid at worst when our team defence isn't woeful.

Still had a better 1v1 loss percentage than 60 of the 79 key defenders that faced at least a handful of one-on-one contests.

 

[tora tora tora]

He’s still better than Young. In a settled backline with Balta and Gibcus, I think he will be fine. He ended the season poorly, but was one of our most improved half way through the year. It’s a good building block moving into to pre season.

We use 2 KPDs. Young & Gibcus round zero. Miller & Balta Round 24.

TBH if they stop the Balta KPF madness , Balta and Gibcus will be first choice KPDs. Miller, Young, Blight are good depth.

Then 3 tallish players Broad, Tresize and Brown.

2 smalls Short/Smith types.

 

[copthat]

Not even joking would lock him in on a 5 year deal. We need to hold onto him to shore up or defence in both the short and long term

Miller and Lefau the 2 biggest surprises and positives for the season.

Has got a pretty good kick on him. Enjoying watching his progression this season even with the backline under fire every game.

Give him a five year deal, get this guy signed up

Having a great season

One of the better 6-disposal games you’ll see.
Doing great things down back

Going to be a log of clubs sniffing around Miller as a free agent. Long-term offers will be coming.

Should have been 5 years

I heard a stat that after R10 he had only lost a single one on one contest for the year.

I can't remember the exact stat (marking ?) or where I heard it so if anyone else heard that please expand.

Very pleased that this big fella has re signed. Could be a weapon as he begins to blossom.

Correct, only lost one 1v1 contest out of the 30 odd he's been involved in.

#1 in the league.

If you picked the AA team based on statistics/contests won etc he would actually be a chance.

In reality he's got no shot but says a lot about the improvement in the man

I think it's a compliment that he goes unnoticed. Just does his job each week with no fuss and doesn't make mistakes.

First coaches votes in 7 years....I assume.

He has been great this year.

Reading this thread backwards has been hilarious. You know the genuine posters when people can at least admit they’re wrong and give credit where it’s due to Benjamin Miller. I may suffer the same fate in the Kosi thread and hopefully I do bc it means we have another Tiger locked in .

Just a few posts from people talking about Miller earlier this year. He had a poor finish but so did 95% of our list. I'm backing him in next year.