The Magpies dragged back a 10-point deficit at the final change to take advantage of a strengthening breeze to the southern end, kicking seven fourth-quarter goals to four, to register their third win for the season.
Miller sparked the team into action in the last quarter, earning a free kick from a strong tackle in the 19th minute and converting to close the margin to under two goals.
A minute later, Miller collected a loose ball from a marking contest and snapped a kick across his body to bring the margin to less than a goal.
Then, another minute later, he earned a free kick at half forward which he directed to Anthony Prior in the forward pocket, who kicked truly to put the Magpies two points up.
The game then became a wrestle between the two teams, before Will Northeast kicked the sealer, clutching the Magpies badge on his guernsey amidst his celebrations.
Going into the game, the ninth-placed Magpies must have fancied their chances against the team sitting immediately above them on the ladder.
After a slow start which saw the Bloods kick the first two goals, the Magpies started to lift their intensity, with their tackling being a feature of their game.
Their hard work was capped off when Matt Venter found Harris Jessen just in front of goals, who duly converted the kick from a slight angle.
The two teams went head-to-head throughout the first half, both kicking six goals to the long break.
The best of their four second-quarter goals was a Jack Haarsma kick around the body at the nine-minute mark.
Sam Gordon also kicked two goals for the quarter, the first of which made to look easy despite it being kicked from beyond the 50-metre line.
However, the Bloods kicked away in the third quarter, helped by an injury to hard tackling Rivva Karpany early in the term.
Karpany suffered a concussion and will be tested before next week’s game.
Harris Jessen kicked the Magpies only goal for the term in the 14th minute, which saw Port Adelaide struggle to get the ball past half back in the dying minutes.
Sam Gordon, who finished with 4 goals, found himself regularly dropping deep into defence to stem the tide.
Academy Coach Jacob Surjan was rapt with Miller’s efforts, especially considering it was just his first game.
"Keanu was outstanding, especially for a kid playing his first academy game," Surjan told portadelaidefc.com.au.
Surjan also praised Gordon for his strong performance around the ground all day.
"He’s been super for us, with his ability to get up and down the ground and play as a key forward as well," Surjan said.
"Tom Gray was really good and played his role well.
"I was really pleased with the way that we played out the game, that we never threw in the towel."
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 2.1 6.3 7.4 14.5 (89)
WEST ADELAIDE 3.0 6.0 9.2 13.3 (81)
portadelaidefc.com.au’s best
Gordon, Miller, Haarsma, Prior, Cooper, Karpany, Gray.
Goals
Gordon 4, Jessen 3, Miller 2, Gray, Northeast, Haarsma, Ross, Prior.
