Fourth-year Tiger, Ben Miller, will make his AFL debut against Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday.

Miller, a 2019 VFL premiership player, has been used mainly as a defender at reserves level while also chipping in as a forward or athletic ruckman.

The 21-year-old Western Australian, drafted with pick No. 63 overall at the 2017 AFL Draft, has averaged 15 disposals and four marks from seven games in the VFL in 2021.

Miller has been an AFL emergency on five occasions this year, including three consecutive weeks, while the program was based in Sydney mid-year.

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Miller becomes the Tigers’ seventh AFL debutant this season, following on from Rhyan Mansell, Will Martyn, Riley Collier-Dawkins, Hugo Ralphsmith, Samson Ryan and Maurice Rioli Jnr.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said Miller had improved as a player every year he had been at the Club.

“I can not imagine there are too many players that have walked through the doors and worked as hard to get an opportunity,” he said.

“It is so exciting to see what he can do, (it is) four years in the making.”

Richmond will announce its team for Saturday's match at 6.20pm tonight.