A fit-again Gryan Miers is thriving in a Geelong forward line boasting fire-power in every position.
After a 2021 season interrupted by injury setbacks, the 23-year-old took time to find top-form this year, but he delivered in a big way during the Cats’ preliminary final thumping of the Brisbane Lions.
Miers enjoyed one of the best outings of his 82-game career, collecting 22 possessions, kicking two brilliant goals, and playing a key role in setting up many others.
The dynamic small forward fractured his fibula twice last year, and then suffered a syndesmosis injury during the pre-season, requiring surgery.
Miers missed the first three games of the year, but has again become an important, if sometimes unheralded part of a forward line led by Tom Hawkins, Jeremy Cameron, and recently Tyson Stengle.
“I love footy so I’ve always been motivated to get back into it,” Miers told AAP at Geelong’s open training session on Monday.
“Early in the year it took me some time to get that match-play back.
“It’s not a game of tennis where you’re the only man in the arena and it’s all about you.
“I’ve got superstar teammates that I can put the ball out in front of ‘Jez’ (Cameron) and he’ll do most of the work for it, or (Hawkins), and Tyson has been an awesome contributor as well this year.”
Miers has become to accept that playing in his position sometimes means more than just statistics.
He finished with nine disposals in the qualifying final win against Collingwood but Miers was ultimately pleased with his contribution.
“I feel like I’ve done my role a lot especially in the second half of the year and have done exactly what the coaches asked,” Miers said.
“I didn’t play as well stats-wise against Collingwood, but looking at the edits I kind of did nothing wrong, I did what I was asked, it wasn’t really a game for a small forward.”
Miers will take confidence into Saturday’s grand final a gainst Sydney knowing he has played well in big games before.
He has already played in three preliminary finals, and the 2020 grand final loss, since making his debut in 2019.
But even at under-18 level, Miers put in a legendary seven-goal p erformance in the TAC Cup decider in 2017 to lift the Geelong Falcons to a memorable premiership.
“I got to experience a TAC Cup grand final and a few prelims so I have a lot of finals experience, personally, we do as a team,” he said.
