On Tuesday night at the 2021 REIV AFL Coaches Association Awards Night, Neale Daniher revealed the winner of the award named after him, the 2021 Neale Daniher AFL Coaches Association Lifetime Achievement Award was “the heart and soul of the West Coast Eagles” stalwart, IAN MILLER. See below for background on Ian Miller.
Mick Malthouse, Adam Simpson, Shannon Hurn and Trevor Nisbett spoke to Miller’s caring nature and incredible impact at the West Coast Eagles over a long period on the lives of many players, families and staff. It was then over to former West Coast Eagles coach, captain and premiership player, John Worsfold for an interview with Miller reminiscing and paying tribute to ‘Serge’, as he is affectionately known.
BACKGROUND ON IAN MILLER – 2021 NEALE DANIHER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER
West Coast Eagles stalwart Ian Miller was an outstanding player whose career was completed well before the advent of the Eagles, but his association with the Club began in 1990 as part of Mick Malthouse’s match committee and has continued since.
He played 276 games with Perth, Fitzroy and East Perth – winning WA football’s highest individual awards (Sandover Medal 1972, Simpson Medal 1978 grand final), but he also coached Perth for three seasons.
Universally known as “Serge”, he spent 10 years on the West Coast Eagles' match committee where he was a strong influence over the Club winning Premierships in 1992 and 1994.
Miller, an outstanding character and respected figure, returned to the Club in 2002 and he has been active as the player services coordinator for the last 18 years. He has been an important asset for the Club’s players in that time where he has been like a surrogate father, particularly for interstate and country recruits.
He was made a life member of the Eagles in 2012 and was honoured with AFL life membership, recognition of a life-time of dedication and high achievement in the game.
PLAYER
1967-1973 Perth Football Club
132 games (Runner-up Fairest and Best 1971)
1968 Premiership Player with Perth (defeated East Perth)
1969, 1971, 1972, 1973 Selected in the WA State Team
1972 Selected in the All-Australian team
1972 Won the Sandover Medal
1974-1977 Fitzroy Football Club 80 games (Runner-up Fairest and Best 1976)
1978-1980 East Perth – 64 games (Runner-up East Perth Fairest and Best 1979)
1978 – Premiership Player with East Perth (defeated Perth), Simpson Medallist - Best on Ground
COACH
1982-1984 Perth Football Club – Senior Coach
ADMINISTRATION
1990-1999 Member of West Coast Eagles Match Committee (Chairman 1993-1998)
2002- Current West Coast Eagles Player Welfare Officer
AWARDS
1999 Perth Football Club Team of the Century
2008 Inducted into the WA Football Hall of Fame
2012 West Coast Eagles Life Member
2020 AFL Life Member
2021 Neale Daniher AFL Coaches Association Lifetime Achievement Award
