Demons unconcerned about fired-up Saints - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Demons unconcerned about fired-up Saints

By Leonard Siragusa 29/05/2008 03:13:24 PM Comments (0)

Melbourne are expecting St Kilda to come out breathing fire in Sunday's AFL clash at Telstra Dome.

The Saints were branded "mentally and physically soft" by their coach Ross Lyon after an insipid loss to Brisbane last weekend.

"You'd expect them to be pumped that's for sure," Melbourne key position player Brad Miller said.

"They kind of got their tails whipped in the media but we don't buy into that kind of stuff.

"They've got their own stuff to worry about as do we.

"They've still won four games and we've only won one so the focus is getting our stuff right."

Melbourne are determined to back up last Sunday's narrow loss to Hawthorn with another good performance, unlike the case in round three, when an honourable defeat to Geelong was followed up with a poor display against North Melbourne.

"It's a fine line - everyone can be two per cent off and it looks as though we aren't even trying," Miller said.

"So we've just got to try to bring that same intensity we had on the weekend and I'm sure things should be different."

But Miller revealed belief at the club was never an issue despite the team starting the season as the competition's kicking boys.

"Surprisingly it (belief) never wavered," Miller said.

"Even through our darkest times, I think that everyone still believed we could still be competitive with the other teams, I don't think we ever lost belief."

Miller, who was one of the game's rising stars in 2004, said his milestone match had crept up on him.

"To be honest, it's one of the those things that pops up," Miller said.

"I didn't even realise it was that close until two weeks ago when mum was ringing me asking me to organise flights.

"I'm really proud, my family are proud and I am stoked."

Miller said his career was given a shot in the arm when he started another pre-season this year under a new coach and football department.

But despite being used at both ends of the ground, Miller wants to be the one to fill the hole left in the forward line following the retirement of all-time club leading goalkicker David Neitz.

"With Neita gone I just need to consolidate a few good games in the forward line and be that strong target up forward," he said.

"It's good when Jared (Rivers) came back and could settle into centre half-back, I could go forward.

"I feel more comfortable playing forward and it's a focus in the immediate future to consolidate my spot in the forward line."

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

0 Comments about this article

Post a comment about this article

Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.

« All sports news