Touk Miller stands on the edge of celebrating the biggest career milestone yet! This Thursday, he will do just that when he steps onto TIO Stadium in Darwin for his 200th match with the Gold Coast Suns against Hawthorn. Miller has done a tremendous thing in making this match. He’s given all eleven seasons of his AFL career to the Suns after being selected with pick 29 in the 2014 draft.
Miller has been astoundingly loyal and it’s mile long and in the sand, Miller’s long haul with the Suns. As every other superstar leaves for bigger bucks and championship windows to pre-formed contenders, he is committing to the franchise. His commitment to Gold Coast has not gone unnoticed, with coaches and teammates alike recognizing his valuable contributions both on and off the field.
Richmond’s head coach Damien Hardwick is a big fan of Miller’s skillset. He claimed the often-looped highlight of Miller was what he showed his recruiters most often when looking for game-changing midfielders. In his comments about the selection, Hardwick praised Miller’s talent as well as her character. He added, “What a unique player he is … subsequently as a human being.”
As for Miller, he accomplished a personal milestone on Wednesday with his 200 th career game played. He joins teammate David Swallow as just the second player in Suns history to do this. Yet this accomplishment demonstrates how crucial Miller was to the unit. It is similarly symbolic of his growing influence in the broader AFL landscape as he further matures into a player.
Hardwick was full of admiration for Miller’s place among the Suns culture, praising his toughness and work ethic. The head coach added, “he’s been a warrior for this footy club, we’ve just relied on Touk for a long time. This feeling is a testament to not just Miller’s talent on the field, but his leadership in establishing a winning culture for the team.
Hardwick called Miller “such a important part of who we are and what we’re trying to be.” The tangible numbers don’t tell the entire story, as Miller’s influence extends well past his stat line and play on the field. He added, “One of the coach’s favourite players, this kid. Some guys have just got that in them,” underlining Miller’s innate ability to inspire those around him.
The day belongs to Touk Miller, preparing for his 150th game, a milestone clash against Hawthorn. He’s clearly intent on putting his stamp on the Gold Coast Suns’ history, still deepening the cycle of his own greatness within the AFL.
