When a young, aspiring footballer’s name is read out by one of the eighteen clubs at the national draft, it is the realisation of a dream – a lifelong dream in many cases. But the reality is, it is the closure of one part of the journey and the beginning of something much greater, something far more intense and a flashbulb moment that will be etched into the memory forever.
Young men, many at the end of their schooling having just turned eighteen, are pushed off in different directions, to different cities around the country, with their new journeys set to begin. They leave behind family and friends, pack their lives up and relocate to chase the dream. This was the case for Gold Coast SUNS midfielder, Touk Miller, who like many young footballers had his life changed in a matter of seconds on a hot, balmy night in late November.
When Dom Ambrogio from the Gold Coast list management team read out Miller’s name, the young man from Melbourne’s inner west suddenly had his world turned on its head. And the same could be said for his mother, Ruth Kimpton, who in the space of a few short seconds witnessed her only child’s dream realised, but also had the painful reality of having to let go of her boy and release him into a new city, 2200km away from Melbourne.
Since the former Vic Metro and Calder Cannons captain landed in Southern Queensland, he has barely put a foot wrong. He earned a spot in Rodney Eade’s round one side after an eye-catching pre-season at Metricon Stadium. From there, he quickly established himself in the SUNS forward line with his manic pressure standing out during a tumultuous first half of the year.
Miller went on to play every game in his debut season, increasing his midfield minutes the longer the year wore on, exceeding expectations with not only the quality of his performances but his stamina to grind out a full 22-game campaign. He finished fourth in the Club Champion to emphasise the consistency and the quality of his performances, and emerged as one of the brightest stories during a dark year in Carrara.
Ruth has been there every step of the way. She’s been to Perth, to Adelaide, and of course to Metricon Stadium. She’s ridden the wave of emotion associated with the life of a footballer and it’s been a journey soaked with pride. After all the years of washing football gear, driving all over Victoria, buying boots, sitting in meetings with various football aficionados and attending countless games, it had come to this.
“I sound like a little bit of a broken record, because I just keep saying that he is just living his dream, but it’s just so true. He is living the dream and I’m just so immensely proud,” Kimpton told goldcoastfc.com.au.
“That was his dream since he was big enough to run. He decided when he was pretty young that he was going to be a footy player, and he stuck to his guns. It’s such a long journey just to get to this point and I just couldn’t be prouder of him.
“One of the things that stood out for us this year is that it was on the field and off the field and the conversations that we would have with people that were just so proud of him and I think he was overwhelmed by how wide that impact is – how many people were affected by him doing well and in terms of realising his dream and getting gig and a game week after week after week.”
When a player relocates interstate at 18, it’s not only them who are forced to make adjustments. The family they leave behind also alter how they live, particularly in the case of Miller, where it was just him and his mum. Suddenly, two mouths become one, the washing subsides significantly, but a hole is left.
Unlike broader society, Ruth’s boy departed the nest far sooner than most, moving away to pursue an exciting adventure and one that quickly saw her flying all over the country to watch him go to work. Ruth knew the reality of the draft well in advance and was as well prepared as she could be. Although, she does admit it came along quickly. Before she knew it, he had landed in a foreign city, no longer sharing the house they lived in.
“It came way too soon. They say that kids grow up so fast, but that couldn’t be more true, and especially when they leave at eighteen – some kids live at home until they are twenty-seven," she said.
“I’m studying, so I think that’s filled the void somewhat – my evenings are full of study and of course travelling to the games each week which has been so much fun. Every weekend I’m going somewhere and I’ve really enjoyed that.
“It’s been an adjustment, but one that we were hoping was coming. I think it’s made his journey, it’s really separated his life; he got to take this really big step up, as opposed to if he stayed in Melbourne I don’t know whether his step change would have been different.”
Independent and ambitious, Miller has had little trouble adjusting to life in a new state. Moving north with Calder Cannons teammate Peter Wright – someone he had known since the age of 12 – made the change more seamless than it otherwise might have been. Up until recently, the pair lived with a host family, along with fellow draftee Jarrod Garlett, but have since moved out on their own, pursuing a life of independence in a city that has quickly become their home.
“There was just Touk and I at home, so he’s been raised to be relatively independent, because if he doesn’t do it I have to do it. So he worked out quite quickly that all men pitch in to do the tasks and the chores at home. He’s got no problems doing the washing, doing the dishes; he’s well house trained," she said.
“I think he really enjoyed having a pseudo family because of having brothers around in the form of Peter and Jarrod at the house he was staying in at Mark and Maryanne’s.
“That was lovely, but he was very eager to extend his independence so he’s moved out into a place with a couple of the boys. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him happier. Its like he’s been waiting for this for so long to have this sense of independence.
“I think he was quite proud of his ability to work stuff out, deal with the Foxtel man and deal with the electricity people. I think he was ready for that. It has suited him well. I miss him madly, but it is so nice to see him branch out and be independent and blossom.”
It is not hard to see why, but football has changed for Ruth. No longer is it purely something that her son does out of love. It’s his job, his career. It’s something that could well be the main driving force in his life for the next decade or more. No longer is she a casual consumer of the game. She has a vested interest now and it’s something she is thoroughly enjoying, no matter how far from home it takes her.
“I don’t ever remember being into football as much as I am now, in terms of really into the game. I’ve just been really enjoying it and travelling is not a problem for me, I’m sitting at airports or on aircrafts reading a textbook. The club looks after us so well, making sure we’ve got tickets and checking up on us," she said.
Throughout her son’s debut season, Ruth and her beaming smile could be spotted in airport lounges, in the rooms after games or somewhere in the vicinity of the ground, on the periphery, enjoying her son’s work. And with good reason, given the breathtaking debut season he manufactured this year.
Transitioning into a parent with a son on the ground is a tough adjustment for any parent as they are exposed to the opinions of the entire outer. Praise and criticism are as much a part of the game as grass and the name Sherrin. Ruth shrugs off the brutal reality of a football crowd, she refuses to allow the comments of some to get to her and says she has enjoyed some great times at games this year with fans who have realised who’s mother she is.
“You’ve just got to take that on the chin – that’s footy. You can’t get too wound up. Part of the whole experience is what goes on in the stands," she said.
“You hear equally good and critical things, but I’m just a spectator as well. I’m like ‘Oh no, what did you pass it there for?’ I just take the role of spectator and don’t worry about it too much.
“I’ve had some lovely experiences at games, and by default someone will find out that you’re a player’s mum and it’s amazing how nice that is. The whole experience has just been really great.”
Nearly twelve months has passed since Miller had his name read out. He has played 22 games since then, lacing a bow around a stunning debut year. But it still feels surreal for Ruth. And when you consider the minority of society that land at an AFL club, it’s a strange reality to prepare for and deal with, but one that has been saturated with excitement and plenty of firsts.
“It’s hard to explain to someone how surreal the whole thing is because how many people have a job where your friends and family wait for you on a Friday afternoon to finish your work week and then watch you change out of your work uniform into your civilian clothes," she said.
“And how many people have a job where their employer flies their family to come and watch you and gives you front row seats to watch you do your job.
“So for me, I feel the way they’ve engaged with us has been so wonderful. They are just as invested with the families as they are with the players. I feel such a sense of being apart of something.”
A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since the St Kevin’s College product uprooted his life and moved to the glitter strip. Miller has demonstrated he can perform at the highest level, and on a consistent basis. The challenge will be following up his outstanding debut season; a challenge that has gobbled up even the most prodigious talents in their second-year. But a challenge Miller is sure to sink his teeth into and build on the impressive start to his career.
For Ruth, the travel doesn’t cease now the season has ended. Her life as a marathon runner will take her around the country in the coming months, occupying her time until another football season rolls round. It will roll around quickly, it always does. And when it does, Ruth will be ready for the next chapter of her son’s football voyage.
