The Messi of the AFL: Gryan Miers has been a standout for Geelong in 2023. Photo: AAP
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AAP Newswire
It is time to unearth a question that nobody has asked to be answered.
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Who is the Gryan Miers of the Goulburn Valley League?
If you’re not a regular on social media, then this might arrive out of left field.
But to cut a long story short, a comparison between Miers and Argentinian soccer icon Lionel Messi have been a running gag in AFL circles in recent weeks.
It started thanks to a fake social media post that featured prominent media personality Gerard Whateley along with the quote: “Gryan Miers is to AFL what Leo Messi is to soccer. Messi may kick more goals, but Miers scans the field just as well. Maybe even better than Messi does.”
Miers went along with the gag and opted for a Messi goal celebration, looking up to the sky and pointing to the heavens.
So, we thought we would play along and find out which GVL talent is replicating the Geelong forward’s incredible numbers in attack.
Miers is the best-ranked player in the AFL for goal assists and is closing in on the 40 mark for the season.
So who is leading the way at GVL level?
Echuca’s Sam Reid is the current league leader with 20, one ahead of Seymour’s gun talent Jack Murphy.
Reid is leading the way in goal involvements with 79 and 118 score involvements.
The Gryan Miers of the GVL? Echuca co-coach Sam Reid leads the comp for goal assists.
Photo by
Aydin Payne
Interestingly, Reid is joined in the top-five players by two of his Murray Bomber teammates.
Forward Will Monahan is tied on 19 with Murphy, while youngster Jackson Stewart has tallied up 18.
Behind those four are Seymour duo Rickey Schraven and Riley Mason, tied on 16.
Mansfield tall forward Ben Christopher is enjoying another fine year and sits equal fifth on 16, along with Euroa gun Jett Trotter (16).
Goal assists, GVL top 10
Sam Reid 20
Jack Murphy 19
William Monahan 19
Jackson Stewart 18
Ricky Schraven 16
Riley Mason 16
Ben Christopher 16
Jett Trotter 16
Mitch Wales 15
Corbin Anderson 15
Echuca pair Mitch Wales and Corbin Anderson each sit on 15.
When it comes to goal involvements, Christopher sits second on 76, while Trotter (74), Monahan (73) and Mason (63) round out the top five.
Christopher leads the way in score involvements with 123 and Trotter is close behind on 120, while Reid (118) and Monahan (117) are joined by Mooroopna duo Jackson Trengove (116) and Chris Nield (110).
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