Veteran Miller axed by Bulldogs
Kris Miller will play reserves today and then assess his football future after being dropped from South Fremantle's league team.
The veteran Bulldog, who last month became just the sixth man to play 300 WAFL matches, was axed as South coach Paul Hasleby sought more running power to bolster a team that has lost its opening three matches.
A disappointed Miller declined to comment last night but confirmed that he would play his first reserves match in 14 years before weighing up whether to play on for the rest of the season.
Miller, 33, will be offered life membership at South Fremantle this year, to complement the one he earned at East Fremantle, without being required to play the standard 150 club matches.
He has played 148 matches for the Bulldogs to go with 153 at East Fremantle.
Last-placed South Fremantle will take on Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval today and need a victory to avoid losing touch with the other finals candidates.
Meanwhile, Marcus Adams will face the biggest challenge of his brief WAFL career when he is used as a power forward in West Perth's bid to topple unbeaten East Perth.
The Royals have lost seven West Coast players - Jacob Brennan, Sam Butler, Josh Hill, Scott Lycett, Pat McGinnity, Jeremy McGovern and Dom Sheed - who travelled to Geelong for the game tonight but still have a powerful line-up capable of reversing the result of last year's grand final.
Circumstances have forced the muscular Adams, who has played just five senior matches, to be used as a defensive forward in West Perth's first three games.
Kody Manning was suspended for the first three matches over an incident in last year's grand final.
Fellow forward Marc Crisp was rubbed out for two games after round one this season.
The return of both players at Medibank Stadium today means coach Bill Monaghan can release Adams into a more creative role in attack alongside lively veteran Anthony Tsalikis.
"We have probably used him poorly in the opening weeks because we have been shy of forward pressure," Monaghan said.
"With Crisp and Manning coming back this week we will be able to play him as a power forward.
"He naturally has an impact because he is so strong but he also has good running power and really good pace."
Monaghan named Adams as West Perth's best player in the dogged win over Perth last week after he kicked 3.1 from his 16 possessions, had a game-high seven inside-50 entries, laid four tackles and won six hit-outs.
"He naturally has an impact because he is so strong but he also has good running power…."" West Perth coach *Bill Monaghan *on Marcus Adams
