‘I was shocked’: Miller blindsided by Greenwood bombshell
Gold Coast star Touk Miller has admitted he was “definitely shocked” when he learnt that fellow midfield bull Hugh Greenwood had joined North Melbourne this week.
In the most dramatic player movement of the off-season, Greenwood linked up with the Kangaroos as a delisted free agent on Monday evening, after the Suns removed him from their primary list with the intention of redrafting him later this month.
North Melbourne swooped after Hugh Greenwood was delisted by the Suns.Credit:Getty Images
The move raised eyebrows, considering Greenwood had been one of the Suns’ most consistent players during the two years he spent with them, finishing in the top two at the club in tackles, clearances and contested possessions this year.
In 2020 he led the AFL for tackles, while for the Suns he finished No.1 for clearances and contested possessions, ranked second for disposals and polled 11 Brownlow votes.
In each of those statistical categories from a club point of view, Greenwood was in a quinella with Miller.
Those facts evidently weren’t lost on the Kangaroos, who ensured the Suns’ risky move of cutting Greenwood backfired spectacularly.
“I was definitely shocked, I think because it happened so fast,” Miller told RSN on Wednesday.
“It was like, within 72 hours, he was playing for us and we were looking at what he was doing for our team and then all of a sudden he’s playing for North Melbourne.
“The longer I’ve been in football, the more I realise that does happen in AFL, and the system can shift really, really quickly.”
Miller described the 29-year-old’s stunning departure as a “tough scenario,” but understood Greenwood’s decision to accept a deal from the Kangaroos that was too good to pass up.
“We’re going to lose a senior player who is highly respected in the club and also a very good player in his own right,” Miller said.
“But I think even in his own words he thought that where we were as a club, in terms of his spot in the midfield group with the players we have, it wasn’t really going to be there and the opportunities. So it was going to be a lot harder for him to play in that midfield.
“But in saying that he’s going to be sorely missed, and I wish him all the best for where he’s going to go at North Melbourne because he’s probably in the best nick he’s been in since he’s been at the club.”
Miller has since penned a new five-year deal with the Suns that will tie him to the club until the end of 2027, and the newly minted All-Australian “couldn’t be more proud” to continue playing with Gold Coast.
“We haven’t had a finals berth, there are still so many things that I would love to be at the club for and see the success it deserves,” Miller said.
“I’ve kind of watched it build, and there’s just something about it that I definitely fell in love with.”
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