Fremantle veteran Hayley Miller reflects on fight for midfield spot, losing AFLW captaincy

Fremantle star Hayley Miller was booted from the midfield last year and lost the captaincy this season. She tells ELIZA REILLY how she’s swallowed her pride and rediscovered her form.

Fremantle star Hayley Miller has revealed what it took for her to regain a spot in the Dockers’ starting midfield mix after being booted from the engine room last season.

An All-Australian midfielder back in 2022, Miller started last season around the ball but was gradually pushed forward as the season wore on. The 28-year-old attended an average of 67.5 per cent of centre bounces between rounds four and six, down from 92.5 per cent in the first three rounds.

In some games, Miller was also handed a tagging role. The Dockers believed that she needed to work on her defensive running patterns. In rounds seven, eight and nine, she didn’t attend a single centre bounce and played predominantly in attack.

Miller has been a regular in the midfield this season and is currently averaging 15.7 disposals and 5.3 clearances. She kicked the winning goal against Port Adelaide from 18 touches.

Hayley Miller has regained her spot in Fremantle’s side. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

The Fremantle games record holder said that forcing her way back into the middle was a goal of hers.

“I went to work in the off-season to make sure I did everything I could to put myself in a position to fight for a midfield spot,” she said. “Last year, we needed a bit more in the forward line … a bit of speed, strength and X-Factor which I was more than happy to play that role.

“But I see myself at least for now as a midfielder.

“I love the split between mids and forwards and so for me, it was about getting my body right and making sure I was in the best shape to have an impact in the midfield.”

A return to the midfield has been paired with the disappointment of losing Fremantle’s captaincy this season.

Hayley Miller of the Dockers fends off a tackle by Amy Gaylor at Windy Hill in Round 1. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

Miller captained the Dockers for three seasons but handed the reins to Ange Stannett – already ruled out for the season with an ACL injury – after a player and staff vote.

It’s meant that Miller has still been required to captain Fremantle on game day, including against Port Adelaide on Saturday.

Despite no longer holding the title, Miller said that little had changed about her approach to leadership.

“When it first happened, it was disappointing for me because you put your name forward for something like that and it is a bit of swallowing your pride and finding where I fit in the group from that,” she said. “Moving forward from that, it doesn’t change how I go about my footy on-field.

“I’m still enjoying the role that I have in the leadership group.

Hayley Miller in action in Round 2. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“I love captaining this club so I relish every opportunity I get to do that. It’s not different. I love it on game day when it’s my turn but it’s no different when it’s my turn to flip the coin versus when it’s Aine or Pughy’s.”

Dockers coach Lisa Webb is hopeful that Aisling McCarthy will be fit to return against Melbourne after she was a late withdrawal last week with bone bruising.

“If she gets through today’s session, I don’t anticipate any problems going forward for her,” Webb said.

The Dockers aren’t underestimating Melbourne, a side they’ve never beaten in the AFLW. The Demons have lost their past two games to North Melbourne by 50 points and Brisbane by 18 points after starting the season with a win over Geelong.

“They’re a really good side and they always have been,” Miller said. “They’ve always been a benchmark of the competition.

“We’ll go out there and test ourselves against them. We go in not fearing anyone but having respect for them.

“(We’ll be able to beat them) by being able to play our way. We saw that Adelaide denied us that opportunity and what can happen when we’re slightly off.”

Originally published as Fremantle veteran Hayley Miller reflects on fight for midfield spot, losing AFLW captaincy