Gryan Miers heard the noise, that Geelong had as easy run into the AFL finals and they might be vulnerable.
So the impressive qualifying-final win over reigning premiers Brisbane was important validation for Miers and his Cats teammates, setting them up superbly for Friday night’s blockbuster preliminary final against arch-rivals Hawthorn.
While Geelong took a six-game winning streak into the Brisbane game, they were all against teams outside the finals.
Their previous match against another top-eight side was also their most recent loss, to GWS in round 19.
“It was huge for us – I heard all that noise and there were doubts within your own head, of how the preparation is and what we’re doing,” Miers said of their finals build-up.
“We delivered those six weeks really well … each game, it wasn’t like we were (playing) a team less than us, we had to do it the right way.
“We were prepared on that Friday night against Brisbane, that if the game looked very different, we could deliver.
“I don’t think it was the way we scripted it, but we delivered right when it mattered. We did a great job.”
Many AFL players can only dream of where Miers is now, one game away from the grand final.
Incredibly, this is the midfielder’s sixth preliminary final in 153 games over seven seasons – indicative of Geelong’s extraordinary consistency over the past two decades.
After playing in the losing grand final side against Richmond in 2020, he was part of the team that smashed Sydney to win the 2022 premiership.
“It is a bit of normality for me … hopefully (we) get the record back to 3-3,” Miers said.
Geelong led until late in last year’s preliminary final loss to the Lions, and Miers said they had learned their lessons.
“We’ve put ourselves probably in a better position this year to finish off that kind of stuff, that we didn’t do last year,” he said.
“We really failed in some games last year, whereas we haven’t this year. I’m very confident in what we can produce, and last year has also helped what we’ll be able to do.”
Preliminary finals are said to be the hardest games to win, and Miers acknowledged there is a different feel ahead of this week’s game.
“There’s definitely a different energy – it’s fantastic,” he said.
“When you win that first week, you have two weeks to build into it. Some nights you’re confident, some nights you’re nervous.
“There is a bit of a change-up, getting that mentality right. The intensity is higher, but the coolest head always prevails … you just have to stay calm.
“Maybe we’ve gotten it wrong in the past … because of our experience, and we’ve been in this situation exactly 12 months ago, it’s been fantastic.”
Miers also is grateful that, unlike last year, they are the first of the two preliminary finals. Collingwood will then host Brisbane on Saturday at the MCG.
“Last year we were in the reverse and I actually didn’t enjoy the Friday night,” he said.
“It is good to know our result and know what’s happening first.”
