Young star has legs
Miers impresses AFL recruiters with stamina
PREMIERSHIP star Gryan Miers showcased his running ability in front of AFL recruiters at the AFL draft combine this week, finishing third in the 2km time trial.
Miers, who scored best-onground honours with seven goals in Geelong Falcons’ TAC Cup grand final win, clocked 6.13 for the 2000m test, just four seconds off Eastern Ranges teen Dylan Moore.
Miers also finished equal ninth in the yo-yo test, which replaced the beep test at this year’s combine.
The 18-year-old said he was pleased with his output at the testing camp.
“Yeah it wasn’t too bad. I’m recovering from glandular fever so I wasn’t sure how I was going to go,” Miers told the Geelong Advertiser.
“I just tried to go as hard as I could at the start and see if my body could hold on.
“I was naturally talented at running when I was younger and then I gave away running for four years, and after my very first preseason I’ve focused on it completely.”
Miers wasn’t the only Falcon to impress. Fellow Vic Country rep- resentative Matthew Ling, tipped to be the Falcons’ first draftee this year, finished third in the yo-yo test and 10th in the smartspeed agility test.
Meanwhile, Ethan Floyd highlighted his endurance ability, finishing equal ninth with Miers in the yo-yo test and 12 seconds behind him in the 2km.
But Miers said tall forward Tom McCartin impressed him most.
McCartin, the younger brother of St Kilda’s Patrick, recorded the equal sixth highest vertical jump with 88cm and tied with Miers and Floyd in the yo-yo test.
“He’s never had a real preseason so he came out and did really well in nearly every test,” Miers said of McCartin.
“The combine was real fun, a different experience to what I’ve ever done.”
Miers said he would enjoy a short break before the national draft on November 24.
“I might just take the next week or so off, just compose myself after the big year and relax a bit,” he said.
“After that, I’ll just get back into some gym work and light running until the draft.”