FN Exclusive: Miller confident of an AFL revival
Posted by Brent DiamondSep 12. 2010 10:19 am
AXED Melbourne forward Brad Miller says he is confident of resurrecting his AFL career after speaking to a “few clubs” during the season.
Miller admitted this week that he was quick to realize he would be shown the door by the Demons at the end of the season – after he failed to be given a game despite a 10-goal haul for Casey in the VFL against Gold Coast last month.
The Suns are one of the “few clubs” that are understood to be keen on handing Miller, who played 133 AFL matches, a lifeline.
Miller said he would do some private training over the break to help retain his fitness.
“If you kick 10 and don’t get a game the next week, you pretty much realise you’re not in their (Melbourne’s) plans,” Miller said.
“Through the year, I’ve been touching base with a few clubs because of the situation I was in but I’ve got nothing concrete at the moment.
“If another opportunity came up at AFL level, I’d jump at it…I’m confident in my own ability it’s just whether an opportunity presents itself. I’ve just got to wait and see,” he said.
Demons development coach Brad Gotch, who coached Miller at Casey, said the 27-year-old would be a “handy back up forward at another club”.
“Why wouldn’t you look at him?,” Gotch said.
“Even as a back-up forward, he’d still do some damage as that third or fourth tall,” he said.
Miller’s decision to ditch a farewell game at Melbourne in round 22 in favour to play in the VFL finals for Casey had much to do with pushing his case to other teams.
“It is frustrating because you obviously want to be playing at the highest level that you can,” he said.
“I thought I was playing good enough footy to win a game and obviously when I wasn’t I knew that I wasn’t in
Melbourne’s plans so I had to start looking at other clubs and other options.”
Another former Demon – Shane Valenti – looms as a mature age rookie prospect after an impressive year with Port Melbourne in the VFL to be a joint winner with Rooster Stephen Clifton for the Liston Trophy.
Valenti, who said he would “love to have a chat” to Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna, was confident that he had improved enough to return to the AFL ranks.
“I’m always confident in my own ability. I’m maturing with age and the smarts and all of that,” Valenti said.
“I don’t know what to expect. Obviously there’s a couple of teams coming in and I’d love to get a crack somewhere but if I don’t then I’ll just keep playing the highest level that I can at the moment and that’s VFL,” he said.
The 23-year-old missed last Sunday’s epic semi-final loss to Box Hill because of general soreness.
By Brent Diamond
Filled under: AFL Issues, Clubs, Homepage, Melbourne, Richmond, VFL News
