Anthony Miles (Australian footballer)

Anthony Miles

Miles during the 2017 pre-season
Personal information
Nickname(s) Snipper[1]
Date of birth (1992-02-28) 28 February 1992
Place of birth Albury, New South Wales
Original team(s) Howlong (Hume Football League)
Murray Bushrangers (TAC Cup)
NSW/ACT Rams (TAC Cup)
Height 179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current club Richmond
Number 26
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2012–2013 GWS Giants 10 0(1)
2014– Richmond 60 (23)
Total 70 (24)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 20, 2017.
Career highlights

AFL

Junior

  • U-18 All-Australian: 2010
  • U-18 NSW/ACT captain: 2010
  • U-16 NSW/ACT captain: 2008
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Anthony Miles (born 28 February 1992)[2] is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life and junior football

Miles was born to parents Mary and Gerald in February 1992.[1] He grew up in the rural New South Wales town of Howlong, 30 kilometres north-west of Albury. Miles attended school at Albury High School in the New South Wales/Victoria border town.[3] He played club football with Howlong in the Hume Football League.

In 2009 and 2010 Miles played TAC Cup football for the Murray Bushrangers, appearing in 13 and 11 matches respectively.[4] He finished both seasons in second place in the club's best and fairest award.[4] In 2010 he was also the club's club's vice-captain.[3] In addition, he played matches for the NSW/ACT Rams in the same competition in 2010 and served as the team's captain during this time.[3] He was selected in the TAC Cup team of the year in 2010.[4]

Miles played representative state football for NSW/ACT at under-16 and under-18 levels, captaining both teams.[4] He was selected as an under-18 All-Australian following a stellar national carnival in 2010.[4]

AFL career

Greater Western Sydney

Miles was originally recruited to the newly formed GWS Giants through zoning concessions. He signed his first contract with the club while still in high school in June 2010, opting out of a potential nomination for the AFL draft in the process.[3]

Miles would go on to train and play for the club in matches prior to its introduction to the AFL in 2012.

He played his first AFL game in Round 4, 2012 in a loss to Adelaide at AAMI Stadium. He recorded 15 disposals, eight marks and six tackles in the match.[5] He recorded an impressive 27 disposals in his next match, in Round 17 against Fremantle.[6] He managed seven appearances in an injury-riddled debut season, recording averages of 18 disposals and five marks.[4]

Miles would manage just three AFL appearances in 2013, with averages of 13 disposals four tackles and four marks.[7] He did however kick his first career goal in a Round 9 loss to Hawthorn at York Park.[8]

At the conclusion of the 2013 season the Giants decided not to offer Miles a new contract. Efforts to move him during the trade period all failed and he was later de-listed by the club.[1] He had played ten games across two seasons.

Richmond

Miles was subsequently drafted by the Richmond Football Club with the club's second pick and 27th pick overall in the 2014 Rookie Draft.

In May 2014, Miles was upgraded to Richmond's senior list[9] and played his first senior game for Richmond in Round 12, 2014.[10] He recorded 18 disposals and eight clearances for the match[11] Miles impressed early, with Tigers coach Damien Hardwick pleasantly surprised by Miles' substantial contributions to the team.[12] Over his first six matches Miles lead all Richmond players for contested possessions and placed third in the league for clearances.[12] He didn't miss another game that season, including appearing in the club's losing elimination final to Port Adelaide. He finished the season placed fifth at the club for average disposals (24.4) and second in total clearances despite playing in just 13 matches.[13] His per game clearance rate (6.6) was the sixth best across all league players that season.[14]

Miles entered the 2015 season firmly in the club's best 22. This would remain the case throughout the year, with Miles playing his first full season of matches, including a second straight finals series.[7] He twice matched his then career-high 30 disposals in Rounds 6 and 18 matches against North Melbourne and Hawthorn.[15][16] Miles was one of the club's best in its elimination final defeat at the hands of North Melbourne. He recorded a team high 22 disposals and team high 9 clearances on the day.[17] At the end of the season Miles led the club for clearances (135) and placed third for total disposals (544).[18] He also recorded the second-most free kicks drawn of any player in the league that season.[18] His nine votes received in the year's Brownlow Medal was both a career high and good for third place at the club.[18] In October Miles was awarded the Fred Swift medal for his fourth placed finish in the club's best and fairest count.[19]

Miles at Richmond's family day in December 2016

Prior to 2016, Miles expressed a need to improve his fitness base. With the reduction in the interchange cap from 120 to 90 per team per game, Miles recognised the need to stay on the field for longer stretches than ever before.[20] His early output in 2016 reflected the struggles that came with this change. He missed his first game since his Richmond debut when he was dropped ahead of the team's Round 4 clash with West Coast.[21] He returned to the team after missing just one match though, recording 25 disposals and a goal in Round 6's ANZAC Day eve match against Melbourne.[22] Though he recorded a career best 31 disposals in Round 8, Miles found consistency hard to come by in 2016.[23] In Round 19 he recorded his lowest disposal match since joining Richmond, picking up just 11 during his side's huge loss to his old club Greater Western Sydney. He was dropped again prior to Round 22, and did not return to the senior side for the final match of the season.[24][7] Miles placed sixth in the club's best and fairest count in 2016.[25] He dropped to eighth at the club for average disposals (22.7) and third (92) for total clearances in 2016.[26]

As with the previous season, Miles' 2017 pre-season saw him training to improve his aerobic fitness in addition to adding versatility to his game.[27] But with the off-season addition of Josh Caddy and Dion Prestia, Miles was squeezed out of the Richmond midfield brigade, forced to sit out the season opening match for the first time in three years.[28][29] He remained in the club's reserves side for the following six weeks.[30] Richmond VFL coach Craig McRae referred to Miles as "an AFL player waiting for an opportunity" after he recorded 35 disposals and two goals in one such match.[31] He made his return to AFL football in Round 7, called to the senior side to play the reigning premier Western Bulldogs.[32] His stay was short-lived however, being dropped again in Round 8.[33] Miles returned once more for a single game in Round 9, this time recording 15 disposals, one tackle and two marks in the loss to his former team the GWS Giants.[34] After being dropped for Round 10 another two months of VFL football awaited, where he was a consistent performer including a three week run of 35, 34 and 32 disposals.[35] In Round 17 he once more returned to senior football, recording 24 disposals, eight marks and four tackles in Richmond's win over the Brisbane Lions.[36][37]

Miles is contracted to Richmond until the end of the 2017 season.[38]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of round 19, 2017[39]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team # Games G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
Totals Averages (per game)
2012 Greater Western Sydney 25 7 0 0 74 54 128 34 28 0.0 0.0 10.6 7.7 18.3 4.9 4.0
2013 Greater Western Sydney 25 3 1 1 23 15 38 12 13 0.3 0.3 7.7 5.0 12.7 4.0 4.3
2014 Richmond 26 13 5 4 162 155 317 38 56 0.4 0.3 12.5 11.9 24.4 2.9 4.3
2015 Richmond 26 23 7 6 277 267 544 92 90 0.3 0.3 12.0 11.6 23.7 4.0 3.9
2016 Richmond 26 19 10 1 206 226 432 63 85 0.5 0.1 10.8 11.9 22.7 3.3 4.5
2017 Richmond 26 4 1 0 35 46 81 18 17 0.3 0.0 8.8 11.5 20.3 4.5 4.3
Career 69 24 12 777 763 1540 257 289 0.3 0.2 11.3 11.1 22.3 3.7 4.2

Personal life

Miles is a practicing Christian.[1] He has two older brothers, Lance and David.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Edmund, Sam (15 August 2014). "Anthony Miles born and bred in Howlong, rejected by GWS, overlooked in draft, now starring for Richmond". Herald Sun. News Ltd. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  2. ↑ Greater Western Sydney Giants Player Profiles Archived 22 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine.. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Seewang, Niall (8 June 2010). "GWS move hasn't sunk in for Anthony Miles". Border Mail. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "NSW/ACT Player of the Week: Anthony Miles". AFL NSW/ACT. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  5. ↑ "Round 4 , 2012 - Adelaide vs GWS". AFL Tables. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  6. ↑ "Round 17 , 2012 - Fremantle vs GWS". AFL Tables. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 "Anthony Miles". AFL Tables. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  8. ↑ "Round 8 , 2013 - Hawthorn vs GWS". AFL Tables. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  9. ↑ Paton, Al (20 May 2014). "Richmond loses Nick Vlastuin, Liam McBean to broken fingers but upgrade rookie Anthony Miles". Herald Sun. News Ltd. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  10. ↑ McKay, Ben (9 June 2014). "I know how to fix Tigers, Hardwick says". Nine Sports. ninemsn Pty Ltd. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Round 12 , 2014 - North Melbourne vs Richmond". AFL Tables. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  12. 1 2 Hogan, Jesse (24 July 2016). "Richmond's Anthony Miles thriving in second shot at AFL". The Age. Fairfax. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  13. ↑ "2014 Season Stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  14. ↑ "14 in 14: Anthony Miles". Richmond FC. Bigpond. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  15. ↑ "Round 6, 2015 - North Melbourne vs Richmond". AFL Tables. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  16. ↑ "Round 18, 2015 - Hawthorn vs Richmond". AFL Tables. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  17. ↑ "Elimination Final, 2015 - Richmond vs North Melbourne". AFL Tables. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  18. 1 2 3 "2015 Season Stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  19. ↑ "Jack Dyer Medal 2015". Richmond FC. Bigpond. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  20. ↑ "Getting more Miles in the tank". Richmond FC. Bigpond. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  21. ↑ "AFL teams: Full squads for Round 4". Herald Sun. News Ltd. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  22. ↑ "Round 5, 2016 - Melbourne vs Richmond". AFL Tables. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  23. ↑ "Round 8, 2016 - Richmond vs Sydney". AFL Tables. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  24. ↑ "AFL Teams: Full Round 22 squads and the best SuperCoach advice". Herald Sun. News Ltd. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  25. ↑ Greenberg, Tony (8 September 2016). "Dusty’s Jack triumph". Richmond FC. Bigpond. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  26. ↑ "2016 Season Stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  27. ↑ Greenberg, Tony (15 February 2017). "Miles strives to go the distance". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  28. ↑ "Dermott Brereton says Anthony Miles could be called upon if Richmond plays finals". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  29. ↑ "Who's in the mix for round two?". AFL Media. Telstra Media. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  30. ↑ Tseros, Peter (3 May 2017). "Richmond is flying after five wins from six games but there needs to be still room for the forgotten Tiger". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  31. ↑ Prime, Toby (16 April 2017). "Richmond defeats North Ballarat by 189 points in VFL". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  32. ↑ "Round 7 2017, Western Bulldogs v Richmond". AFL Tables. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  33. ↑ "AFL Teams Round 8: Full squads for every game, ins and outs, injuries, suspensions and team news". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  34. ↑ "Round 9 2017, GWS v Richmond". AFL Tables. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  35. ↑ "In the mix: Who's a chance for round 14 selection?". AFL Media. Telstra Media. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  36. ↑ McKay, Ben (14 July 2017). "Hardwick wants Tigers to toughen up in AFL". The West Australian. Yahoo!7. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  37. ↑ Schmook, Nathan (18 July 2017). "Forgotten Tiger back in the fold at right time". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  38. ↑ "Tigers re-sign Miles and Elton". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  39. ↑ "Anthony Miles". AFL Tables. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anthony Miles (Australian footballer).
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.