IN a new exciting collaborative countdown, the Draft Central has teamed up with other independent media organisations to bring a 2022 AFL Women’s Top 50 Countdown. Every weekday from now until December 17, a new player will be named starting from 50th down to 1st, stemming from a combined eight Top 50 submissions. Among those who submitted Top 50s include Siren Sport‘s Gemma Bastiani, Women’s Australian Rules Football (WARF) Radio‘s Peter Holden, and a combined Outer Sanctum team’s Top 50.

Today we continue our countdown with number 40, Fremantle Women’s Hayley Miller.

Hayley Miller

Fremantle

League/s: AFLW

Season/s: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, S7, 2023, 2024

• Games [tot]: 70

• Goals [tot]: 20

• Disposals [avg]: 14.1

• Marks [avg]: 2.1

• Tackles [avg]: 4.4

• Cont. Poss: 8.1

• Uncont. Poss: 5.8

• Clearances: 3

• Inside 50s: 3

• Rebound 50s: 1.2

Hayley Miller first appeared onto the AFLW scene as a 20-year-old, picked up with the Dockers’ first selection in the inaugural 2016 AFL Women’s Draft, and making her debut in the opening round of the foundation competition. Since then, Miller has remained in the purple and being a steadfast member of the squad, playing at least seven games per season and proving herself at the top level. Having won two state league best and fairests in the West Australian Women’s Football League (WAWFL) – in 2018-19 – prior to its more recent realignment to be the WAFL Women’s, Miller has regularly returned to help out Subiaco and guide her side to finals each year.

At the top level, Miller has been somewhat of an underrated member of the Dockers’ midfield. Whilst Kiara Bowers has rightly taken the mantle as not only the top midfielder in the purple, but one of the best in the competition, Miller has also shared time with Ebony Antonio and prior to West Coast’s arrival, Dana Hooker. Whilst Bowers racked up a ridiculous 65 clearances in season 2021, Miller was next best (35) with Tiah Haynes (23) the other key inside ball-winner. Given Miller is still only 25, the natural leader will be around for some time and is a key cog in one of the AFL Women’s biggest contenders.

From our list perspective, Miller made it into five of the eight lists, and arguably had the most consistency within those selections, all coming between 31st and 44th. With a big season she could continue to rise up the ranks, but one thing is for sure, Miller is a quality player and deserving of her selection here.

DRAFT CENTRAL’S 2022 AFL WOMEN’S TOP 50

#50 Ash Brazill(Collingwood) | ARTICLE
#49 Tayla Harris (Melbourne) | ARTICLE
#48 Courtney Hodder (Brisbane) | ARTICLE
#47 Eden Zanker (Melbourne) | ARTICLE
#46 Kirsty Lamb (Western Bulldogs) | ARTICLE
#45 Tyanna Smith (St Kilda) | ARTICLE
#44 Breanna Koenen (Brisbane) | ARTICLE
#43 Dana Hooker (West Coast) | ARTICLE
#42 Georgie Prespakis (Geelong) | ARTICLE
#41 Breann Moody (Carlton) | ARTICLE
#40 Hayley Miller (Fremantle)

~

Picture credit: Will Russell/AFL Photos

~