In the 11th of a richmondfc.com.au pre-season special series focusing on 14 key findings from the Tigers’ 2014 season, we examine the instant impact made by Anthony Miles.


No. 11:  Anthony Miles was a revelation in Richmond’s midfield.

If there was an AFL end-of-season award for bargain-basement recruit of the year from a rival league club, Anthony Miles would surely be preparing his acceptance speech right now.

After two years battling to cement himself as a senior regular with Greater Western Sydney, Miles was delisted by the Giants at the end of the 2013 season, and subsequently recruited by Richmond via the rookie draft a couple of months later.

In typically low-key, but determined style, Miles set out to make the most of his second chance at the game’s highest level.

The tenacious, ‘ball-magnet’ inside midfielder dominated in the new Richmond VFL side during the early rounds of the 2014 season, but had to wait until Jake King was placed on the Club’s long-term injury list before being promoted to the primary list.  And, it took another couple of weeks after that for Miles to make his senior debut with the Tigers – the Round 12 match against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

From that moment on, however, Miles never looked back.

He played every game at senior level with Richmond for the rest of the season, averaging a highly-impressive 24.4 disposals, 11.2 contested possessions and 6.6 clearances per match.

That clearance average was the sixth best in the entire competition, further underlining the influence he exerted in the Tigers’ midfield.

Miles had 25 disposals or more eight times, with a career-high 30 touches against Fremantle at the MCG in Round 13, which was just his second appearance in the famous Yellow and Black guernsey.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was effusive in his praise of Miles . . .

“He’s an incredible competitor,” Hardwick said.

“You’ve got to love those guys that continually surprise you at every level.  He’s done it all his career.

“The ability to win the hard ball can never be underestimated . . . That’s what he does really well, and he uses it well.

“He just keeps getting it done.

“He’s been really impressive for us, he’s an outstanding character, and we’re really pleased to have him.”