It was with great sadness that all involved with the Melbourne Football Club and the MFC Past and Present Players’ and Officials’ Association heard of the recent passing of Robert ‘Bob’ Miller.

Originally from Horsham, Miller made his way to the Melbourne Football Club at the age of 17. A veteran of 69 games during the early 1960s, Miller played in a variety of positions, ranging from ruck rover to defence and second ruckman. While he played in finals in his first three seasons, a hamstring injury prevented Miller from advancing beyond emergency in the 1964 Grand Final.

Miller hung up his boots in the middle of the 1965 season, heading to America to further his education after studying at Melbourne University. Miller studied for a Masters degree at the University of California, Berkley, then after graduation went on to teach at the University of Western Ontario (Canada).

Most significantly, Miller worked for the United Nations, based in Manhattan, taking on the role of Human Rights Officer for three years. Upon returning to Australia, Miller served in a variety of lecturing roles at Monash University for a decade. During this time, he also co-founded the Springvale Legal Service. Miller joined the board of the Melbourne Football Club in 1971, remaining in this post until the end of 1974.

Miller then went into politics, being elected as the Labor Party member for the Legislative Assembly seat of Prahran in 1979, where he remained for two terms.

From 1988 until his retirement in 2023, Miller practiced full-time at the Bar, first in commercial litigation, then wills and estates.

Sadly, ill health took its toll, and Bob Miller passed away on Tuesday, 16 June 2026. Those who knew him through the law called him ‘a good and gentle man’. All who knew him in red and blue, wearing No. 33 throughout his 69 games, no doubt echo that sentiment. We offer our most sincere condolences to Bob’s family, friends and former teammates.