The 20-year-old broke his finger during the Roos' impressive opening-round win.

Miller played on despite the injury and soaked up the winning return.

"I knew straight away it wasn't good, but I loved Saturday," he said.

"Just seeing the look on the other guys' faces after the win, that's what you play for. You play for those 10 minutes after victories."

The young gun has had a luckless run of injuries and looks set to miss the first half of this season with his latest setback.

"I don't cope well with the injuries, and that's half the thing. I do find it extremely difficult," Miller said.

"But I've got all the right guys in my corner helping me out, so I won't be rushing it."

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Miller returned to Dimboola after a difficult 2018 with West Adelaide in the SANFL.

The midfielder tore a disk in his back and suffered numerous stress fractures, forcing him to miss the second half of the season.

"It's one of those things where unfortunately the injury has pushed me back a bit," he said.

"I ended up making a fair mess of my back, and I was off running for four months. It took a long time to come back to where I need to be.

"I've definitely got some unfinished business with West Adelaide, and at some stage, I've got to try and pursue that higher level again."

Miller nearly joined West Adelaide straight out of school in 2017, but returned to Dimboola for the season where he named was the club's best and fairest.

Miller said waiting the extra year before moving was important for his development.

"I went over as an 18-year-old and trained with them for a few weeks, and I just felt that as a person and a footballer I wasn't ready.

"So when I did make that move it was one of the biggest learning curves of my life.

"I like to think that before I left, I was quite professional but that all pushed it to another level. I was around some incredible mentors and unbelievable players, and it all helped me develop as a footballer and more as a person as well."

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The two-time Dimboola best and fairest winner was named vice-captain this season.

"As a person, I've got to switch my game. In the past, I was always so individually driven, and I've got to change that and help the people around me develop," he said.

"Unfortunately that input will be from the sideline for now, but if I can do all the things off-field well and also set an example on the field when I get back, then I'd be pretty happy."

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