Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne thinks that Hawthorn should consider tagging Gryan Miers in their Easter Monday clash against Geelong at the MCG.
The 24-year-old has started the 2024 season in fine fashion, averaging 23 disposals across two games while also kicking three majors in last Friday’s win over Adelaide.
The crafty forward is elite with his ball use, particularly going inside 50 and Hoyne thinks that he could be the key behind the Cats being successful in 2024.
Hoyne revealed some interesting stats behind Miers’ impact and explained why he’d send Finn Maginness his way if he were Hawks coach Sam Mitchell.
“I just want to have a broader discussion around this guy and his importance to the team,” Hoyne began on SEN’s Sportsday.
“Over the last 12 months, when he has 20+ disposals, Geelong is 9-3. When he had under 20, they’re 3-9. Take that even further, when he has under 15, they’ve won 1-5.
“I’m just throwing it out there, if I’m Hawthorn this week, I’m sending Finn Maginness straight to him. I know that’s a little bit different but the Geelong midfield without (Patick) Dangerfield in there for this week… Miers has never really had that hard attention before, so I’m always interested in the first time you get it, how hard it is to deal with.
“It would just test Geelong in the sense that if you shut this guy down, he’s so important in terms of what they do… by all reports Finn Maginness is one of the elite runners at Hawthorn, so I think he might be able to go with him.”
The number one aspect of Miers’ game is his ability to assist his teammates and get involved in scores.
In 2023, the Cat led all-comers in goal assists with 41, while he is also in elite company in terms of overall score involvements with Hoyne listing the names who he matches in that category.
“The last 12 months, this is the group he’s in for overall score involvements,” Hoyne said.
“Christian Petracca at one, star. Charlie Curnow at two, Toby Greene at three, Stephen Coniglio at four, Marcus Bontempelli at five, Zak Butters six, Gryan Miers seven, Connor Rozee eight, Taylor Walker nine, Shai Bolton and then Dusty (Martin).
“That’s an unbelievable list… he is so important. I’m big on what Geelong can do this year, I think we’ve seen it the first two weeks, people are starting to get onboard.
“But I think there’s going to be more attention paid to (Miers) and if that’s going to start, it could start with the perfect person this coming Monday in Finn Maginness.”
The Easter Monday clash between the Hawks and Cats begins at 3:20pm (AEDT) at the MCG.
