Firstly on last Friday night's match. How do you assess the reaction to the round one loss – was it an overreaction or was it fair criticism?

Brad Miller: To be honest, I haven't read the criticism. I try and stay away from it. There is a big focus on round one because there hasn't been any football for six months, so there is a lot of hype associated with it. If the same thing happened in round four, I'm sure you'd cop less criticism than round one, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. If they've got an opinion to write, I'm not going to say they can't write it.

Focusing on your game: you played with a lot of injuries last year, suffering groin and hip problems. How did you deal with 2006?

Brad Miller: It all started in December 2005 when I had a bit of groin soreness. I went away on our 14-day break and I didn't really do much because I thought I'd be ready to go after having two weeks' rest. Unfortunately, it got worse and I was off from January until March and I had around nine to 12 weeks off. It was a big chunk of the pre-season I missed. By the time the games came around I didn't have the fitness base you need when things get tough and I didn't have the mental strength that I needed in order to achieve what I wanted last year. By the end of 2006, I played a few games and got a bit of fitness back and I started to feel a bit more confident in my own body.

Do you get annoyed when people don't understand the injuries you've had to contend with?

Brad Miller: It can get frustrating, but that's part of footy. There is so much stuff that goes on off the track that nobody knows about everything that happens. As a professional footballer, you've got to deal with that criticism – that's part of life. I have let it affect me in the past, when I was younger and new to this fishbowl environment, but as I get older it's what makes me happy and what makes me tick away from the game that I derive my own motivation and sanity from. I don't rely on external factors to get myself going.

From rounds 10 to 18 last year, you played one match. How difficult was it to regain the playing momentum?

Brad Miller: It was mentally challenging last year to find myself in a position I hadn't really been in before. In the hardest times I actually found I learned a lot about myself and what I'm made of. I actually think last year was a positive – and a lot of people won't agree with me on that – but personally I took a lot out of last year.

Your best match of 2006 – and possibly of your career – was against Fremantle in last year's semi-final. How much confidence did you gain from that performance?

Brad Miller: It was good to approach the pre-season knowing I could get back to that form. I know it was only one game, but it was a reminder of where I want to get back to, where I want to be and where I can take my game. It provided me with some inspiration to train and really get going again over the summer.

Have you found it frustrating shifting between centre half-forward to centre half-back and not settling in one position?

Brad Miller: It's a little bit difficult because I play at a height that is in between. I don't kick a lot of goals, so I'm not a definite forward and sometimes the back line needs an extra tall. I have found it difficult in my career to switch back and forth, but I know that it's something I need to become better at in order to help the team. It's something I haven't done very well in the past, but I know in my own mind that I have to get good at it in order for team success. I'll take it as it comes. If I have to play on Barry Hall or someone else because the back line needs it, then I've got to become better at switching.

You were a member of the 2006 leadership group. How did you handle the expectations and tags placed on you as a potential leader of the club last year?

Brad Miller: It's pretty funny because I don't get caught up in it too much. It's not something I've pursued, but if I'm tagged with that title, again it's their opinion. I can't say it had a negative effect on me last year. I had a tough year in 2006 for various reasons and I came through it at the end.

How did you deal with the speculation that linked you with Jason Akermanis in a potential trade last year?

Brad Miller: It's funny because I didn't read about it and my Dad actually called me and he asked me if I was coming home (to Queensland). I was a bit surprised because I didn't really know what he was talking about. I had to start playing good football, so I had other stuff to focus on.

With the amount of running you do on the field, is your training similar to midfielders?

Brad Miller: The only way I learned to play against guys that are taller than me is to run. I played in a practice match against Adelaide a couple of weeks ago and wore a GPS. I actually covered as much distance as Brad Green – or someone similar in the midfield – which was close to 14 kms. I do try to run with the better guys and keep up with them as often as possible.

What do you do away from footy?

Brad Miller: I recently became a Dad and now have a six-month old boy (Lennox), so he's occupying most of my time at the moment which is great. He's amazing and he's really touched me. He's my priority, but eventually when he gets older, I'd like to get back and do a bit of study. I also like spending time down on the coast and although I don't do that as much as possible, I am looking forward to doing that again soon.

How has Lennox changed you?

Brad Miller: I don't know, but it's in ways that are hard to explain. I've never really comprehended going home and having someone that knows nothing about football and just smiling – it's amazing. He's great and he's going really, really well.