It is something that has bewildered avid followers of the game and those that follow young talent closely, but finally Gold Coast young gun Touk Miller should be rewarded with a Rising Star nomination for his brilliant performance against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.
 
The 19-year-old was as good as any player on the ground at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon, in a performance that highlighted his class, intensity and desire. The key ingredients of his game that have been on show since he debuted against Melbourne in round one.
 
He may not be mentioned in the same conversation as Melbourne pair Jesse Hogan and Angus Brayshaw, Carlton favourite Patrick Cripps and Greater Western Sydney’s Cam McCarthy, but he should be, for his season has been outstanding. Of that quartet, only Brayshaw is a first-year player, adding further weight to Miller’s current standing amongst those in their maiden season.
 
Cripps is a clear favourite, and rightly so, but he spent the majority of last season honing his craft in the VFL. Whilst Hogan’s story is well documented, he has been at Melbourne for nearly three years now, and not taking anything away from his brilliant season, he has been exposed to an elite environment for some time.
 
Eade joined the chorus of critics stunned by Miller’s snubbing this season, suggesting the Rising Star panel had no option but to wave their magic wand above the SUNS’ prize possession this week after his stunning performance against the Giants.
 
“We’ve thought that he’s very unlucky not to have a Rising Star (nomination) by now, I would have thought he’d have one six or seven weeks ago to be honest,” Eade told reporters after the SUNS' 15-point loss on Saturday.
 
“But his performance today was first class, so I would think with that effort and perseverance he would have one soon. Whether it’s out of sight, out of mind, that they actually forget about him.
 
“He’s not the silky skills of some of the other players that have got nominations, but I reckon what have we played, 15 games? He’s probably had three down games. I reckon he’s had 11 or 12 really good games. Today was probably the pinnacle of that.”

On Saturday afternoon, Miller produced the most complete performance of his career to date, collecting a career-high 27 possessions, including 18 contested touches, nine clearances, seven inside 50s, two goals and three goal assists.
 
After being drafted as a midfielder, the Victorian has spent the majority of his maiden season as a pressure small forward. In recent weeks, with the midfield well and truly depleted, Eade has finally thrown Miller into the engine room – a move the veteran mentor was hesitant to do due to his age and inexperience.
 
“We’ve probably been loathed to do it because he’s a young player and I suppose all our injuries are to our runners and we put him there last week and we thought he was quite good, even probably against North as well. And we gave him more midfield time today,” Eade said.
 
“But he’s so good around the ball, and his ability to negate, put pressure on, win the ball back in that body situation in tight was terrific.”
 
When Miller was recruited to the club, the wraps on him in terms of his character and leadership potential were large. Eight months into his time in Carrara and his actions have spoken for themselves.
 
Eade’s first season at Gold Coast has been dominated by a focus on professional standards for training, preparation and life in general. One player he has hadn’t needed to worry about is Miller. A player, Eade says, is dragging the club forward.
 
“He’s really improving, he’s just got a great attitude.  At the start of the year he showed up a lot of players in the way you train and go about it. He’s actually led the way and there’s a lot of players going with him,” Eade said.