AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game
Key Facts
Full name
Ian Robert Miller
Known as
Ian Miller
Born
16 December 1949 (age 74)
Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 24y 111d
Last game: 27y 254d
Height and weight
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 86 kg
Senior clubs
Perth; Fitzroy; East Perth
Jumper numbers
Fitzroy: 3
Recruited from
Perth (1974); Fitzroy (1978)
Hall of fame
Western Australian Football Hall Of Fame, Inducted 2008
Family links
Bob Miller (Father)
Ian Miller
| Club | League | Career span | Games | Goals | Avg | Win % | AKI | AHB | AMK | BV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perth | WANFL | 1967-1973 | 132 | 135 | 1.02 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Fitzroy | V/AFL | 1974-1977 | 80 | 33 | 0.41 | 31% | 15.18 | 4.28 | 3.94 | 11 |
| East Perth | WAFL | 1978-1980 | 64 | 31 | 0.48 | — | — | — | — | — |
| WAFL | 1967-1973, 1978-1980 | 196 | 166 | 0.85 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| V/AFL | 1974-1977 | 80 | 33 | 0.41 | 31% | 15.18 | 4.28 | 3.94 | 11 | |
| Total | 1967-1980 | 276 | 199 | 0.72 | — | — | — | — | — | |
AFL: 8,626th player to appear, 3,025th most games played, 2,793rd most goals kickedFitzroy: 911th player to appear, 148th most games played, 156th most goals kicked
A classy, powerful footballer who could play in numerous positions, Ian Miller became one of the hottest properties in the game during 132 WANFL games in seven seasons at Perth which included a Sandover Medal win in 1972 (the first centre half forward to do so), and All Australian selection the same year. He was a part of the Demons side that beat East Perth in the 1968 WANFL Grand Final, and was among their better players on that 'one day' two years later when they lost to South Fremantle. Strong, tenacious, and a fine kick, he was not afraid of 'mixing it' but also boasted plenty of skill. His status as one of Perth's favourite sons was confirmed in 1999 when he was chosen on a half forward flank in the club's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'.
In 1974, after a lengthy clearance wrangle, he joined the struggling Fitzroy Football Club in the V/AFL, where he played on every line, although eventually settling in a ruck-rover utility role. Miller embraced the new challenge and, after a tentative start, went on to give the club fine service in 80 games over the next four seasons, fully vindicating the huge wraps on him. Although he was subsequently joined by other big name Western Australian recruits, such as Ron Alexander and Bob Beecroft, the Roys did not finish higher than ninth during his tenure at the club.
Returning home to Western Australia in 1978, Miller joined Perth's arch rivals, East Perth. As chance would have it, the two clubs ended up confronting one another in that year's Grand Final, with Miller capping a wonderful season by putting in a best afield performance to claim the Simpson Medal as the Royals edged home by two points (match reviewed here). He stayed at East Perth for another couple of seasons, playing a total of 64 games, before retiring. He later returned to coach Perth from 1982 to 1984 and then joined the West Coast Eagles, firstly in an assistant coach’s role and then as a full-time member of the football operations department, responsible for player welfare.
Undoubtedly one of the best all round players of his generation, Ian Miller's career record also included 15 interstate games for Western Australia. Ian Miller was the son of another former Perth player, Bob Miller. Like his father, Ian had a stint as coach of the Demons, but his three seasons at the helm were unsuccessful.
Author - John Devaney and Adam Cardosi