CULT CAT ON THE CLIMB
THE INSIDE STORY OF THE CATS’ LATEST CULT HERO
GGeelongl goalsneaklkGGryan MiersMi isi wastingti no time ti making his mark in a flying start to his AFL career.
before the first bounce, leading to a mad dash to the changerooms to find a spare pair.
He went on to kick seven goals in a best-on-ground performance that still gets spoken of to this day.
“I don’t think I’ve had a disposal yet this year without it being mentioned by the commentators,” Miers laughs.
“My mates always take the piss out of it. But it’s in the past now. I’d rather do it at AFL level.”
By his under-18 year, Miers had flowing dreadlocks and, as a small forward, was being compared to a young Luke Dahlhaus.
He now plays alongside the 2016 Western Bulldogs premiership player at the Cats, and the comparison has not been missed.
“Some of my teammates call me ‘Little Luke Dahlhaus’,” Miers said.
“I think it’s all in the hair. It’s not too much of the style of play, but the first three weeks we’ve supported each other well and we complement each other well up the field.”
Miers said the dreadlocks would not be coming off any time soon, although they are “gradually getting shorter and shorter”.
“I’ve got some gross things in my hair. It looks like I have spiders in there,” Miers said.
“But everyone loves dreadlocks.”
However, a recent image posted on social media spooked Miers. It showed commentator Brian Taylor’s face merged with Miers’ body and hair, leaving the 20-year-old in no doubt the dreadlocks would have to come off one day.
“I’m definitely not hanging on to it forever after I saw that photo of me and Brian Taylor mixed together,” Miers said.
“I’m definitely not going to be an old person with dreadlocks.”
Selected at Pick 57 in the 2017 national draft, Miers played 20 games in the VFL last year for a return of 20 goals.
Miers knew he was not ready for an AFL berth in season one, but made the leap come Round 1, when he debuted against Collingwood at the MCG in front of an “electrifying” crowd that “scared” him.
After a three-goal game against Adelaide in the boots that have been “retired off” for a second time, Miers now has four majors for the season which have come with their benefits.
“Tom Hawkins is the only reason I want to kick goals … to get a big bear hug from him afterwards,” Miers said.
Geelong’s Wacky Wednesday celebrations last year saw Miers turn up wearing a mask of a German shepherd’s head.
It was in honour of his NFL team, the Philadelphia Eagles, which had worn the same masks during last year’s postseason to symbolise being underdogs on their charge to winning Super Bowl LII.
Geelong could similarly have been described as underdogs entering this season, but expectations are quickly rising around the Cats after their 3-0 start.
“We’ve still got some star players to come back that are going to push some players out that don’t deserve to be pushed out,” Miers said.
“I’ve got to be aware that if they come back and I’m not playing my role those weeks, I might have to go back to VFL. I’ve just got to keep pushing and we need everyone to be pushing each other along.
“You need about 35 guys to be able to win a premiership, I reckon, and we’ve got that at the moment.”