Gryan bounces back from rude awakening
AS Gryan Miers embarks on this month’s national draft, there is one game of football that sticks out in his mind.
No, it’s not his celebrated TAC Cup grand final performance, in which he nailed seven goals in three quarters of football to help the Geelong Falcons win by two points.
In fact, it was a senior final for Grovedale against Leopold last year, in which the 17-yearold failed to get a kick. Small forward Goal sense, can kick them from anywhere. Kicked more goals than anyone in the TAC Cup this year. Big game player, which he has proven in finals at local, state and national level. Endurance — works over opponents up the ground and then beats them back. Can go missing. Late second round onwards.
Fresh off four goals in Grovedale’s semi-final win over St Joseph’s, Miers went into last year’s GFL preliminary final full of confidence.
A hundred and twenty min- utes later, he walked off Simonds Stadium a shell of himself.
“The week before I had a good one against Joeys, so I just accepted I could do what- ever I liked, I was a bit confident in myself,” Miers said.
“Leopold must have put a bit of work into me because the next week I got bullied really.
“All day he (my opponent) was into me, verbally and physically hitting me and abusing me, so I just got bullied and I didn’t get a kick — I think I had two touches for the day, probably.”
It was an awakening for Miers, who was yet to stamp himself a 2017 draft prospect.
“I got tormented and treated like I was nothing, so it really motivated me this year and showed that I can step over other players and not accept that,” he said.
“After that, I did boxing and wrestling with dad, to not to get pushed around and treated like that on the football field.”
Despite receiving attention from opponents this season, Miers has taken it in his stride.
He kicked 50 goals in 17 games, including seven in the decider to score the best on ground medallion, stamping him as a possible first round draft pick.
It is something he has dreamt of his whole life, despite doubts whether he would develop quick enough.
On November 24, his dream should be realised.
“It’s extremely exciting, it’s a bit nerve-racking, thinking about where you’re going to end up, if you’re going to end up anywhere,” he said.
“At the end of the day, you’ve got an opportunity no one else has and you’ve been striving for it your whole life, so it’s exciting to see it all come together.”