With the off-season acquisitions of Nick Malceski and Mitch Hallahan, along with rookie revelation Adam Saad and top-ten draft pick Peter Wright, Touk Miller has generated little fanfare during his short stint on the Gold Coast.
The former Vic Metro and Calder Cannon’s captain has played in all three of Gold Coast's NAB Challenge fixtures, looking more than comfortable at the elite level. Miller’s ferocious harassment of the opposition and ability to keep his feet in the contest has been a standout of his football to date.
The tenacious teenager has found a home as a defensive small forward, and on the back of an imposing first summer at Metricon Stadium, coupled with strong NAB Challenge form, he is firming for a round one debut.
The 18-year-old admits the step up from underage football has been steep, but his body is adapting well to the rigours and demands the elite level requires.
“It’s a lot different, juniors is a whole another ball game. I think up here, playing in the AFL at the moment is just a whole another step up – it’s a bit harder, people run faster, the hits are a lot bigger,” Miller told SUNS TV following the SUNS' draw against the Brisbane Lions on Friday night.
“But, at the moment I’m trying to get through, my body’s holding up, fingers crossed it stays that way.
“The boys at Gold Coast are looking after me, they’re checking in with us first year players all the time. My body personally is holding up pretty well, I have no niggles or injuries so touch wood it stays like that.”
With a myriad of high draft picks parking their cars at Carrara each day, Miller – who was chosen at pick No. 29 – can be considered a low draft pick. In reality, this is simply due to the SUNS' array of breathtaking young talent.
But, when you consider Collingwood took Dayne Beams with pick 29 in the 2008 draft (Sydney’s Dan Hannebery was next at 30), and Adelaide chose Jack Gunston at 29 in the following year’s draft (Geelong’s Mitch Duncan was taken at 28), the picture is clear. This is a high draft pick. And Miller is a serious player who is already demonstrating his value on field.
Like a lot of medium-sized players drafted each year, Miller spent the majority of his junior career playing in the midfield. The first part of his football education under Rodney Eade has been adapting to a new role as a high half-forward.
“It’s a lot different to playing in the midfield, you don’t run up and down the ground at a steady pace a lot of the time – it’s a lot more high intensity running. But, I’m enjoying it, it’s a whole different role for me,” Miller said.
“I think the Gold Coast have slotted me in well there and teaching me how to do it, I’m enjoying it.”
With less than two weeks until Gold Coast begins its campaign against the Demons at the MCG, Eade has strongly indicated that Miller will be making the journey south for his maiden AFL appearance. You get the sense a decorated voyage might be departing the harbour.
