By Russell Bennett
Very few people love the Kooweerup red and blue more than favourite son Ben Miller.
So, on Saturday under sunny skies at the Cowes Recreation Reserve, it was only fitting he celebrated his 250th game milestone with a memorable win, chaired off by Mitch Collins and another Demons favourite, Craig Dyker.
The man affectionately known as ‘Benson’ means a lot to an awful lot of people at Denhams Road, and that much was obvious on the weekend.
Through thick and thin, hard times and good, he’s stuck with the club that his dad Geoff, and brothers Tim and Cody have also represented with pride.
And boy is the club proud of him.
Club president Dan Crowley described the versatile Miller as arguably the club’s most important player at various stages over the journey – whether in a key defensive or forward post, or wherever else his side needed him.
“There were times he’d be playing at centre-half forward when you were lacking something down forward and then you’d just have to take the risk and move him down there to get you those important goals or take those marks,” Crowley said.
“He just gave so much versatility to the side, and as much as he’s not a huge talker, he’s always led by example too.”
Miller has never taken a backwards step while representing the Dees. It’s not his style. Instead, he continually does whatever his team – and team mates – ask of him.
Whether big or small, if there’s a task to do that will help the side, Miller will do it.
He’s pushed through injuries in recent times, but this year he again looms as one of Koowee’s most important players – both on field, and culturally with the family man never far from wife Jaydee or kids Annika, Corey or Pippa.
Crowley said Miller’s biggest on-field assets to the side over the years were his marking, decision making, and disposal by foot. The last two, in particular, remain crucial this year.
“He’s a great fella to get along with too,” Crowley said.
“I think that’s the biggest thing.
“Everyone loves him.
“It was great to see the boys get up in the last quarter and to give him a win. How many times do you see milestone games where sides don’t get up?
“For the boys to get a win for him, it was a tremendous effort.”
Miller is a part of a long list of players who haven’t tasted senior success at the Demons over recent decades, but if his team mates this year have anything to say about it, that might just be about to change.
