VFL 2018: Liston Trophy champ Anthony Miles hoping co-winner Michael Gibbons gets shot at AFL
AHEAD of VFL preliminary finals weekend, Richmond’s JJ Liston Trophy champion Anthony Miles has his fingers crossed co-winner Michael Gibbons of Williamstown will follow him into AFL ranks.
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WHEN he was playing for the Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup, Michael Gibbons often heard about Anthony Miles.
Miles was three years older than Gibbons and went from the Bushies to Greater Western Sydney.
“I used to admire ‘Milesy’ coming through and that’s no joke,’’ Williamstown rover Gibbons said.
“He’s a couple of years, maybe a few years, older than me, and when I was coming through he was the one that they always said you need to strive to be like, as a work rate, as a person.
“We didn’t have much contact but definitely always knew of each other, and for me he was definitely such a good player the way he went about his footy … coming from the same area as me, and the way he made it, was such a driving factor for me, no doubt.’’
On Monday night the former Bushrangers stood side by side as joint winners of the VFL’s JJ Liston Trophy after polling 19 votes each.
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Miles crossed from the Giants to Richmond in 2014 and is up to 70 AFL matches.
He has fingers crossed that Gibbons will follow him into league ranks after adding this year’s Liston to his 2016 victory. He was also runner-up in 2017. Gibbons also won the 2015 Norm Goss Medal as best-afield in the VFL grand final — prompting Willy coach Andy Collins to declare him the “VFL equivalent to a young, emerging Sammy Mitchell” — and the 2016 Frank Johnson Medal as Victoria’s best player in the state game against the SANFL. He has more decorations than a Christmas tree.
“I’d love to see him have a go at AFL level, because I think those guys who have typically done it pretty hard, generally when they come into an AFL system, really strive and do really well,’’ Miles said.
“’Gibbo’ probably took a similar path to me and has similar attributes as well. I was fortunate enough to get a gig and I’m hoping he’s the same.’’
Miles added: “You can’t teach footy smarts and that’s one thing he’s certainly got. He finds the footy, he uses it well and the character, obviously I’ve had a little bit to do with ‘Gibbo’ but from all reports he’s a fantastic person and that’s something you can’t measure.’’
Miles said there were a lot of VFL players who warranted a look from AFL recruiters.
“The AFL recruiting and the AFL system now more than ever are looking at those mature-agers because they know that they can come in and step in straight away and have an impact on a club,’’ he said.
“Sam Collins, yeah, ‘Gibbo’ and even Adam Marcon and Brett Bewley, there are some really great players in the competition.’’
On Sunday at North Port Oval Gibbons will be a vital player for Williamstown when it plays in its 12th preliminary final in 13 years.
The last five were achieved with no AFL affiliation.
The Seagulls went into last year’s prelim as an overwhelming favourite against Port Melbourne but performed poorly and were bounced out by the eventual premier. On Sunday they’ll met Box Hill, which defeated the Towners in the 2014 preliminary final in a match recalled for the furore over Ben McEvoy’s selection for the Hawks.
Willy’s form has been irresistible in the past three months, winning 10 of its 11 matches.
Miles rates them highly.
“We played Williamstown a couple of weeks ago and I honestly think that they’re a great outfit,’’ he said.
“I don’t want to put the mozz on them but I think they’ll go very close to winning it (the premiership).’’
In the other preliminary final, Casey Demons and Essendon will play on Saturday, with the Dons attempting to win their third final in as many weeks and advance to the decider at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, September 23.
They finished eighth after the home-and-away matches, only securing their finals position with a narrow victory over the Northern Blues in the final round.
Meanwhile, Frankston will appoint a part-time coach to replace Adam Skrobalak, who has been elevated to a full-time role at St Kilda.
The Dolphins are advertising and applications will close next Monday.
Assistant coach Danny Ryan has declared his interest in the job.
General manager Gary Buckenara said the club was aiming to make an appointment by the end of the month.
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