ST KILDA has endured a tough week after being labeled soft by coach Ross Lyon, but Melbourne’s ability to focus on its own plan of attack is the key to Sunday’s contest according to Brad Miller.

“You’d expect them to be pumped up, that’s for sure,” Miller said of the torrid time the Saints have experienced since their listless 46-point defeat in Brisbane.

“They’ve kind of got their tails whipped a little bit in the media, but we don’t buy into that kind of stuff.

“They’ve got their own stuff to worry about, as do we. They’ve still won four games and we’ve only won one. Our focus is on getting our stuff right.”

The Demons played inspired football to push the undefeated Hawks all the way last week after an impassioned pre-match address by retiring skipper David Neitz, but Miller said it was now time to prove the team was capable of backing up good performances.

“We thought we took a step [forward] in round three against Geelong and then went back to square one in round four [against the Kangaroos],” he said, adding the belief of the group had never wavered during the difficult opening months of Dean Bailey’s tenure as senior coach.

“It’s a fine line; everyone can be two per cent off and it looks like we’re not even trying. We’ve just got to try and bring that same intensity that we had on the weekend and I’m sure that things will be different.”

Miller, 24, will play his 100th AFL match on Sunday after joining the club as the 55th overall pick in the 2001 NAB AFL Draft.

“Who would have thought? Not me that’s for sure so I’m pretty stoked,” he said of reaching the milestone.

“To be honest it’s just one of things that kind of pops up. I didn’t even realise I was that close until two weeks ago when Mum was ringing me asking whether she needed to organise flights. I’m really proud and my family is proud.

“I think I’ve got heaps of improvement [left]. I’ve just started working really closely with Bails (coach Dean Bailey) and it was kind of like a new club turning up to pre-season this year with a whole new footy department, so that put a new spark in my own personal football career."

That improvement will come in the forward line if recent weeks are any guide, with Miller keen to try and fill the void left by the departure of Neitz. 

“With Neita gone now I just need to consolidate a few good games up in the forward line and be that strong target,” he said.

“It was good when Jarryd Rivers came back and could settle into centre half-back and I could go up forward. I feel more comfortable up forward so that’s my focus in the immediate future; just to consolidate my spot in the forward line.”