TURN the back clock to 2018 and Gryan Miers first year on Geelong’s list, and even he knew he wasn’t ready for the cut-and-thrust of the AFL.
However, discussions he had with then-Academy coach James Rahilly has proved to be prophetic as he prepares for game number 50 against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.
“I always said to him, once I get into the team, I never want to come out,” Miers.
“I just don’t want to be given a game and then come straight out because there’s a better player than me who is injured or such.
“I wanted to earn my spot by playing good footy and knowing the team values and the way the team plays.
“It was always a goal once I got in not to get kicked out, and so far, so good.”
Debuting in the opening round of 2019 against Collingwood at the MCGH, Miers has been a constant in the Geelong line-up, reaching his 50th game without a miss.
He joins a rare club at the Cats of topping the half-century in consecutive matches from their debut, with Les Armstrong the record-holder after playing 91-straight from 1908-13.
Miers believes his unique style has kept him in the team.
“I’ve got attacking flair, goal sense, and I just try to use that,” he said.
“And where I can help the team, apply pressure as a forward or get up the ground and help defend; I think my running ability helps with that.
“I just try to use my strengths. In my first year, I focussed too much on my weaknesses, and I tried to improve them.
“I got back to making my strengths as best as possible, so now it’s the goal to use them each week, and that’s why I’m still getting a game.”
Geelong enters the match-up with the Demons with a 2-1 record, which easily could have been 0-3.
However, Miers says that with some quality missing, you sometimes need to scratch out early-season victories.
“The next man is doing his job, and we’re finding a way to win, even though it’s not pretty,” he said. “I think we’ll get to a stage where it’s pretty.
“It’s only Round 3, and we’ve won two and nearly won another.
“I think we’ve got a lot of improvement, too, which is perfect even though we’re still sitting in the top half off the ladder.”
Twitter: @tom_king79
