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

[TigerImposter]

Wasn’t crying, just confused Mate

Even Confucius was often confused so you're in elite company.

 

[sante]

We sort of hindered his development because we had a need for key forward/second ruck with Chol and CCJ moving on. He was looking good as a key defender until that point. Hopefully he’s with the defenders all pre season

 

[lllscroatlll]

should send grimes up to stomp grapes full time and slot benny boy in his spot

 

[THE THIN MAN]

Competing with Kosi. Hopefully he keeps improving. He’s pretty good in the ruck with his good leap

Miller is a blancmange, any softer and he would be a souffle.

Talk of Miller finding a mean streak is pure fantasy.

 

[LTT]

In an ideal world Tarrant, Gibcus and Lynch should have been raising the cup instead of the party pies on the last day in September

But the punt road injury horror show put paid to that

Upsides: Found a player in Young. He and Balta were fine as KPD.

We have a look at Ryan and Miller play there.

. Mini was trying to play miller as a defensive fwd,, ditto Pickett and with Prestia, Graham and Cotch rolling through there. Ageing Jack R.

Jeez.the definition of basket case.

Jack R retirement needed a replacement and kosi is low cost . Our success will be based on Lynch .


Got to get midfield and forward line functioning.

Going to be interesting to see if young, kmac, Graham and others hold their spots. Too many midfielders in the forward line. I hope we play forwads up there.
What Dow did mean we can rotate midfielders like hopper, Prestia in the VFL.


The final debutantes of 2022 just didn't kick on. MRJ, Sonsie, Cumberland, Miller.
Mostly from poor games.

Miller had a go at KPF with no success

Kosi in for Jack R is a good call. With Bauer and Cumberland as tall options.

It’s interesting that you say Miller had a go at KPF I can’t remember a game where he was the KPF. Most of the time he was second or fill in ruck which meant that at least 1/3 of the time he was in the ruck and the remainder was split between forward and bench. Rarely was he the key forward with Jack R off the ground. It will be interesting if he gets some decent time as a key He may surprise

 

[LTT]

Miller is a blancmange, any softer and he would be a souffle.

Talk of Miller finding a mean streak is pure fantasy.

Not everyone plays angry like Lynch maybe he just needs to believe It’s amazing what confidence will do

 

[tora tora tora]

It’s interesting that you say Miller had a go at KPF I can’t remember a game where he was the KPF. Most of the time he was second or fill in ruck which meant that at least 1/3 of the time he was in the ruck and the remainder was split between forward and bench. Rarely was he the key forward with Jack R off the ground. It will be interesting if he gets some decent time as a key He may surprise

On paper. Miller and Jack were the 2 tallest players vs Brizz Rd 16. 80% TOG. You're right a lot of Miller's games he is the lowest TOG player for us. So, yeah playing as a back up ruck but as a back up ruck Miller gets disposals in the fwd half.
Low or high TOG don't affect Miller's disposals.
Did he have a job on Andrews?
I can't be bothered watching.

I'm thinking the whole fwd line.

Chuck in Pickett trying to play marking fwd? spoiling fwd? And Graham and Prestia. And MRJ. And Cumbo out of form


Kosi and Lynch IN. Hopefully Bauer & Cumbo again & with no Soldo so we need back up ruck again. I'd be happy for Miller to continue, but would prefer another look at Ryan

 

[Moppey]

I like his mobility and skills, but problem is I can't fit him into a position, he's not quite anything whether it be a pure KPF, KPD or 2nd ruck and his ability to be okay at a few things but not great at any position hurts him a bit.

Very handy VFL player though but do you keep a guy around for that much longer?

This post is spot on. He like most recruits has some good attributes its what gets them drafted. Ben is the epitome of a list clogger though.
Our tall stocks are in such disarray because we hang onto players who show some good traits but never go on with it.
He has been there since 2017 and never at any stage weather in the vfl or Afl done enough to demand any of those positions.

He is not a ruckman in any sense of the word. He is a big enough body who can play there if need be.
He has done sweet stuff all as a kpf apart from a good moment here and there.
He showed some promise as a Kpd but even the limited Young went past him quickly and he is at the bottom of the kpd pecking order.

Have always thought we need to give him time and be patient. Well we have done that 6 years in fact and it has not worked out so far.
Most definately if he cannot go to another level this year he should be delisted. It must be last chance for him.

 

[4tune8]

Yep and he’s competing for those super star positions that comes with the big pay packets. Mihocek for Collingwood might be someone he could try to base his game on. Don’t know if has the speed.

Or maybe like 2016, we just had a shocking year where nothing clicked or went right? Losing Lynch was a killer blow but that happens. There’s certainly still a fair bit of talent on the list imo, and some decent youth to develop.
I think we lost our DNA as our glory years were built on intense pressure, especially in F50, where we worked tremendously hard to keep the footy in that area of the ground, and play the game in our part of the ground. Intensity in the midfield seemed off too, as we always used to lose the clearances, but usually won the ball back with the secondary possession back in the glory years.
In my opinion, we need to get the manic pressure back, and Yze has already said he noted that this area had deteriorated badly in his view and it will be addressed. Group has to buy in, just like they did in 2017, and if they do, we will get better for sure.
Back to the player this thread is meant to be about, I think he has some good traits but he won’t be playing seniors on a regular basis until he starts being more physical in a contest, much like Ben Griffiths back in 2016. You say he’s much better than Kosi? I’d strongly disagree at this point as Kosi appears to be a better mark, especially on the lead, and is much much more physical when it comes to crashing packs. Needs to develop consistency though for sure. If Ben can somehow develop the internal fortitude to also play in that manner, he will be a good player, but until then, he will continue to be a back up player. Just my two bobs worth.

I think that one of the most fundamental changes that Dimma brought in after 2016 was to let the players use their natural ability and not 'over coach' them, let them enjoy the game and utilise the natural talent, let them off the leash.

Miller should never be used as a defensive forward and neither should Balta. They should be using their speed and natural athleticism to make defenders accountable.

Here's Millers write up before he was drafted.

Ben Miller's size and movement at the National Under 18 Championships attracted recruiters' eyes and then blew them away with some mind-bogging times at the National Combine. For a 196cm and 93kg key position player and ruck, Miller suddenly caught the attention of AFL supporters when he ran a 2.91 second 20m sprint and 8.10 second agility test. For any player they are elite numbers, but for a player of his size, it truly is a remarkable feat. Along with his speed and agility, Miller has a penetrating kick which he uses to great effect. He does still need to build his endurance and work on his consistency, but with the raw tools he has at his disposal, Miller is expected to find a home late in the draft or in the rookie draft.

STRENGTHS

• Speed
• Agility
• Versatile
• Vertical leap
• Penetrating kick

Miller's athleticism is more than just impressive, it is downright defying genetics. Most rucks and key position players who can run and jump like Miller are often beanpoles and while he can add more strength to his frame, he is already a very handy 93kg. He is lightning quick, super agile and has a great vertical leap which makes him a potential ruck prospect as well. His vertical leap testing was solid without being outstanding at the National Combine, but his speed and agility were the highlights of the testing. It threw his name up among AFL supporters wanting to know more about this tall, athletic prospect.

His versatility is a great strength to have, potentially settling down as a key position forward and pinch hitting in the ruck, he has also shown his ability to play back if required and while he has not spent as much time in that elite program as some others having lived in remote Western Australia at Kalgoorlie, he has certainly raised eyebrows this year. Miller also has a penetrating kick which when playing forward can help him kick goals from outside 50, or when down back, break through opposition zones.

 

[Grrr]

This post is spot on. He like most recruits has some good attributes its what gets them drafted. Ben is the epitome of a list clogger though.
Our tall stocks are in such disarray because we hang onto players who show some good traits but never go on with it.
He has been there since 2017 and never at any stage weather in the vfl or Afl done enough to demand any of those positions.

He is not a ruckman in any sense of the word. He is a big enough body who can play there if need be.
He has done sweet stuff all as a kpf apart from a good moment here and there.
He showed some promise as a Kpd but even the limited Young went past him quickly and he is at the bottom of the kpd pecking order.

Have always thought we need to give him time and be patient. Well we have done that 6 years in fact and it has not worked out so far.
Most definately if he cannot go to another level this year he should be delisted. It must be last chance for him.

Welcome back.

He would be one of the luckiest players ever to have done not much and still stay on a list.

Last year he was tried forward, and boy did we need one. Essentially it didn't work out because he refused to mark the ball with two arms. Showed a bit in the ruck, which we also needed with our injuries at times.

But at least it showed us how much we needed a player like him at CHF, and we went out and got Kosi who while the same size and mobility to Miller, is hard at it by all accounts.

Now he will be needed as a key back or as ruck backup in the VFL as we have lost a fair bit in that regard down there. And he is always ready as a stop gap if injuries really hit us again. In the mean time maybe he can find some good form as a key back in the VFL, so if needed up top he will at least come in with some form.

 

[THE THIN MAN]

Welcome back.

He would be one of the luckiest players ever to have done not much and still stay on a list.

Last year he was tried forward, and boy did we need one. Essentially it didn't work out because he refused to mark the ball with two arms. Showed a bit in the ruck, which we also needed with our injuries at times.

But at least it showed us how much we needed a player like him at CHF, and we went out and got Kosi who while the same size and mobility to Miller, is hard at it by all accounts.

Now he will be needed as a key back or as ruck backup in the VFL as we have lost a fair bit in that regard down there. And he is always ready as a stop gap if injuries really hit us again. In the mean time maybe he can find some good form as a key back in the VFL, so if needed up top he will at least come in with some form.

Ben Miller and Todd Elton could compare notes and write a book.
How to stay on an AFL list without even trying!

 

[Grrr]

Ben Miller and Todd Elton could compare notes and write a book.
How to stay on an AFL list without even trying!

The funny thing is that coming into his 6th year (the same amount Elton played for), Ben Miller has played only a few games in his best position at AFL level, as a backman, and I don't think anyone on here really knows if he is any good or not in that position. That's a pretty amazing situation.

And even more amazing is that although we don't know his quality as a backman, he is unlikely to get games back there this year as well due to how good Tyler Young has been coming out of nowhere.

Good chance he will be delisted at the end of this year unless something remarkable happens, without ever playing in his 6 years at the club, in his best position. Can't say I have ever seen that before. At least Elton played his 6 seasons in his natural position.

Let's hope he stars as a key back in the VFL and he gets another year. Go Ben.

 

[Dr Tigris]

The funny thing is that coming into his 6th year (the same amount Elton played for), Ben Miller has played only a few games in his best position at AFL level, as a backman, and I don't think anyone on here really knows if he is any good or not in that position. That's a pretty amazing situation.

And even more amazing is that although we don't know his quality as a backman, he is unlikely to get games back there this year as well due to how good Tyler Young has been coming out of nowhere.

Good chance he will be delisted at the end of this year unless something remarkable happens, without ever playing in his 6 years at the club, in his best position. Can't say I have ever seen that before. At least Elton played his 6 seasons in his natural position.

Let's hope he stars as a key back in the VFL and he gets another year. Go Ben.

I reckon Ben has shown that he is a good KPD at AFL level. Not a huge sample, but he has taken the beasts and done a good job.

His problem is that we already have too many good KPDs. So Miller is the most likely to be a decent KPF, after Balta showed limited ability at it. We played him in a spot he could play well, but didn't.

I reckon with the right coaching and some grumpy pills he could tear the KPF spot apart. We'll see.

But as a KPD he isn't as good as Balta, and Young is a great stopper. Gibcus can be elite. SO Miller sorts of fits in around the edges in our squad. Such a pity.

 

[Grrr]

I reckon Ben has shown that he is a good KPD at AFL level. Not a huge sample, but he has taken the beasts and done a good job.

His problem is that we already have too many good KPDs. So Miller is the most likely to be a decent KPF, after Balta showed limited ability at it. We played him in a spot he could play well, but didn't.

I reckon with the right coaching and some grumpy pills he could tear the KPF spot apart. We'll see.

But as a KPD he isn't as good as Balta, and Young is a great stopper. Gibcus can be elite. SO Miller sorts of fits in around the edges in our squad. Such a pity.

How many games has he played in defense, I can remember 1 vs Hawthorn in 2021. The rest of the time he has been forward ruck or is my memory failing me. Grumpy pills, hmm I have my doubts.

Reckon as you say, his best gig is to cement a spot in the VFL as a key defender and become a really good one. By the sounds of it Naismith is coming in to ruck in the VFL and backup AFL, so that means Miller will be most likely a permanent back. Injury or form and he is ready to go is his best chance this year.

 

[Sir_Loin]

How many games has he played in defense, I can remember 1 vs Hawthorn in 2021. The rest of the time he has been forward ruck or is my memory failing me. Grumpy pills, hmm I have my doubts.

Reckon as you say, his best gig is to cement a spot in the VFL as a key defender and become a really good one. By the sounds of it Naismith is coming in to ruck in the VFL and backup AFL, so that means Miller will be most likely a permanent back. Injury or form and he is ready to go is his best chance this year.

Hopefully he gets a chance to cement a role. I don’t think him being thrown around is good for him. But it did sound like from Blair they still consider him a ruck option.

 

[Hank Heavenly]

The funny thing is that coming into his 6th year (the same amount Elton played for), Ben Miller has played only a few games in his best position at AFL level, as a backman, and I don't think anyone on here really knows if he is any good or not in that position. That's a pretty amazing situation.

And even more amazing is that although we don't know his quality as a backman, he is unlikely to get games back there this year as well due to how good Tyler Young has been coming out of nowhere.

Good chance he will be delisted at the end of this year unless something remarkable happens, without ever playing in his 6 years at the club, in his best position. Can't say I have ever seen that before. At least Elton played his 6 seasons in his natural position.

Let's hope he stars as a key back in the VFL and he gets another year. Go Ben.

The amazing part is, Balta, Young, Gibcus and now even possibly Trez have all gone past him in preference for a backline position, who were all drafted at the same time or aften Ben.

The answer might be, although he may be ok as a defensive post in the senior team, others clearly have greater appeal than him.

It's not as if he's had less opportunity at the lower level to prove himself.

 

[Grrr]

The amazing part is, Balta, Young, Gibcus and now even possibly Trez have all gone past him in preference for a backline position, who were all drafted at the same time or aften Ben.

The answer might be, although he may be ok as a defensive post in the senior team, others clearly have greater appeal than him.

It's not as if he's had less opportunity at the lower level to prove himself.

Yes and no. He has played some pretty good football down back in the VFL, probably better than Young and Gibcus, but Gibcus is a special talent so was always going to leap frog players, and Young really must have shown something over summer to be promoted so suddenly. He has done an amazing job at AFL level from where he has come from. Trezise is half back so a different sort.

And for the last two seasons he has been used as a forward ruck, which he has shown he is not cut out for, especially the forward role.

The problem with Miller is he is not good at what Young is good at, the body work and spoiling, more your hybrid Grimes type who can play medium/tall athletic players, and he was never going to replace Grimes or similarly Broad. He is purely back up you would think.

 

[Dr Tigris]

How many games has he played in defense, I can remember 1 vs Hawthorn in 2021. The rest of the time he has been forward ruck or is my memory failing me. Grumpy pills, hmm I have my doubts.

Reckon as you say, his best gig is to cement a spot in the VFL as a key defender and become a really good one. By the sounds of it Naismith is coming in to ruck in the VFL and backup AFL, so that means Miller will be most likely a permanent back. Injury or form and he is ready to go is his best chance this year.

I suspect (don't know) that he ended up being the most likely to make it as a forward (given Ryan wasn't quite ready physically). So he got sacrificed/tried as the last guy we can hope to hold down the KPF spot.

Anyway, Miller is that annoying guy. Too good to play VFL and not really good enough to be your main AFL man. Sort of like Chol.

I hope he cuts it in the AFL. But unfortunately he's on the list of those on the way out.

 

[db26]

First thing is settling him in a position give him some consistency to many of our players we're chopping and changing to much.

 

[tiger_tough]

First thing is settling him in a position give him some consistency to many of our players we're chopping and changing to much.

In VFL. Fullback. Shouldn't need to ruck with the CatBs and likely Naismith.

 

[tigerfan1961]

First thing is settling him in a position give him some consistency to many of our players we're chopping and changing to much.

Something the new coach is totally against too

 

[tora tora tora]

The funny thing is that coming into his 6th year (the same amount Elton played for), Ben Miller has played only a few games in his best position at AFL level, as a backman, and I don't think anyone on here really knows if he is any good or not in that position. That's a pretty amazing situation.

And even more amazing is that although we don't know his quality as a backman, he is unlikely to get games back there this year as well due to how good Tyler Young has been coming out of nowhere.

Good chance he will be delisted at the end of this year unless something remarkable happens, without ever playing in his 6 years at the club, in his best position. Can't say I have ever seen that before. At least Elton played his 6 seasons in his natural position.adelq

Let's hope he stars as a key back in the VFL and he gets another year. Go Ben.

2022 I remember a suns game loss that I attended up here that Miller played kpd Chol and casboult. Miller and Tarrant.
It looked like Miller and Tarrant played on Adelaide himmelburg amd Tex.

And guessing by his hit out stats.. Miller was back up ruck late in the season. Including the final .. and the EFC game where he kicked a good goal I think.

His best position is actually ruck I think. Then the back line.
I would not delist him. I'd rather have Miller playing ruck than Naismith.
See how Kosi and Lynch go. Kosi is a bit like Miller. KPF, KPD and ruck.
If and when Lynch misses his usual chunk of games, be interested to see how he is replaced

 

[Sir_Loin]

2022 I remember a suns game loss that I attended up here that Miller played kpd Chol and casboult. Miller and Tarrant.
It looked like Miller and Tarrant played on Adelaide himmelburg amd Tex.

And guessing by his hit out stats.. Miller was back up ruck late in the season. Including the final .. and the EFC game where he kicked a good goal I think.

His best position is actually ruck I think. Then the back line.
I would not delist him. I'd rather have Miller playing ruck than Naismith.
See how Kosi and Lynch go. Kosi is a bit like Miller. KPF, KPD and ruck.
If and when Lynch misses his usual chunk of games, be interested to see how he is replaced

He’s can’t perform at senior level in the ruck. Especially at centre bounces. I’d like to see him have a run at it at KPD.

I don’t think he’s at the level TBH but if we’re going to persist give him an opportunity to lock down a position that isn’t ruck.

 

[tigerfan1961]

I would not delist him. I'd rather have Miller playing ruck than Naismith.

you are kidding yourself if you think he’s a better ruck than Naismith.

 

[Coach_Required]

The funny thing is that coming into his 6th year (the same amount Elton played for), Ben Miller has played only a few games in his best position at AFL level, as a backman, and I don't think anyone on here really knows if he is any good or not in that position. That's a pretty amazing situation.

And even more amazing is that although we don't know his quality as a backman, he is unlikely to get games back there this year as well due to how good Tyler Young has been coming out of nowhere.

Good chance he will be delisted at the end of this year unless something remarkable happens, without ever playing in his 6 years at the club, in his best position. Can't say I have ever seen that before. At least Elton played his 6 seasons in his natural position.

Let's hope he stars as a key back in the VFL and he gets another year. Go Ben.

So, what you're saying really is Hardwick has stuffed his career by playing him out of position all these years?