When Damien Hardwick was shopping for game-breaking midfielders he would show his Richmond recruiters footage of Touk Miller.
The "prototype" is now under his wing at Gold Coast and will play his 200th game for the Suns, against Hawthorn in Darwin on Thursday.
Miller will be just the second Sun to the milestone, behind teammate David Swallow.
"What a special player he is (first) ... then as a person," Hardwick said, before revealing his Tigers' recruitment tactic.
"We used him, as a hybrid midfielder ... as a prototype of what that player looks like.
"I get the pleasure now of coaching him."
Victorian product Miller, taken with pick 29 in the 2014 draft, has stuck with Gold Coast while other high-profile talents have taken irresistible deals at clubs hunting premierships.
"He's been a trooper for this footy club, we've leant on the back of Touk for a long time," Hardwick said.
"Now he's starting to see the dividends of what hopefully we can become."
A test against the third-placed Hawks (7-2) will offer further evidence of that progression after the Suns (fourth, 6-2) held off the in-form Western Bulldogs last week at TIO Stadium.
Will Graham and Jake Rogers were casualties of that victory and Hardwick hinted there could be more unforced changes, given the five-day turnaround in the Northern Territory heat.
Graham was due to consult a surgeon on Wednesday after he dislocated his shoulder in the late, dramatic stages of Saturday's victory but bravely played on and influenced the contest.
"If that sort of incident happened in Melbourne they'd be showing it on every footy show," Hardwick said.
"He stayed on the ground ... 19 years of age.
"Incredible, helped us win the game.
"He's such a significant contributor to who we are and what we're trying to become.
"One of the coach's favourite players, this kid. Some guys have just got that in them."
Hawthorn ruckman Lloyd Meek and veteran forward Jack Gunston will be rested from Thursday's clash while Luke Breust (back) will also miss the game.
