Miller’s only previous grand final appearance in 2008 with Ballarat league club Darley has some poignant references for South supporters.

Darley lost one game during the home-and-away season, went straight into the grand final and then, after kicking 2.8 in the first quarter, lost the grand final when opponent Ballarat kicked a goal after the siren.

While Miller was shattered, one of his Ballarat rivals was Danny Finn, South’s co-captain.

On Saturday the pair are hoping the Roosters don’t suffer a similar fate, having lost just the one game this year, nor do they want a repeat of South’s 2.7 in the first term in last year’s unsuccessful grand final appearance against Warrnambool.

“That’s what you play footy for,” Miller said of Saturday’s grand final.

“I’ve played footy for 14 years and I’ve never won one.

“Warrnambool earned their chance. This weekend finishing on top of the ladder and winning the minor premiership means nothing. No one remembers in 10 years’ time who finished second but you can have your premiership reunions and all that.”

Miller, who was rookie drafted by AFL club Richmond in 2001, revealed he thought he would never get another chance to play in a senior grand final after the one with Darley, having undergone an ankle reconstruction in 2009 following an injury sustained while representing the VCFL.

The 28-year-old moved to Warrnambool for work at a Port Campbell gas plant in 2010 but never ventured on to the field last year.

“I wasn’t even going to play. I was going to hang up the boots. But footy clubs are a good opportunity to meet people when you move to a new town.”

Some golfing partners who sponsor South suggested late last year he should talk with the Roosters. But he was worried that having not played for 18 months he might not enjoy it.

He trained with the club, enjoyed it and decided to give it a go. “It took me a while to get a little bit of fitness,” he said.

Shift work has restricted his training appearances but he has had a significant impact up forward or in the midfield with his exquisite skills. From 16 games, he has kicked 30 goals, with a season-high of six in round four against Cobden.

“Probably it’s been the worst season of my career,” Miller said. “With work commitments it’s been hard to get to training and I haven’t been all that happy with my season but I can’t complain when the team is sitting on top of the ladder and playing in a grand final.”

But he said after stringing together three good weeks on the training track, he felt the best he had.

Miller said in his younger days he hadn’t been too keen on training.

“I just liked playing footy, I wasn’t the most dedicated footballer going around. I just enjoyed playing with my mates.”

He won TAC Cup side Western Jets’ best and fairest in 2001 and nominated for the national draft. He was rookie listed by Richmond and played with Coburg Tigers, losing the preliminary final by less than a kick.

“I had the option of going back (home) or doing another pre-season with Richmond and I just decided to go home and play footy with my mates.

“Looking back it probably would have been good to have a crack at it but I just liked to get out there and play. I didn’t like training a lot.”