Geelong track watch: Gryan Miers primed for big 2025, Sam De Koning training as ruck and breakout contenders

A Cats star looks set to take another step in 2025. Plus, an update on Bailey Smith’s progress, the breakout contenders who can replicate Ollie Dempsey and a hint on Sam De Koning’s role.

Geelong playmaker Gryan Miers looks primed to take his game to another level in 2025 as he strives to be the best kick and runner in the competition.

Miers broke the goal-assist record in his breakout 2023 season and upped his goalkicking tally in 2024 while continuing to dish off dimes to his teammates.

On Wednesday the 25-year-old provided sizzling passes in match simulation – the highlight a lookaway sideways kick that went straight onto the chest of ruckman Rhys Stanley – and then blitzed his teammates in the running to finish off the session.

While that is nothing new, Miers also joined Bailey Smith, Max Holmes, Mitch Knevitt, Tom Atkins, Jhye Clark and George Stevens for a stoppage drill with midfield coach Steven King.

The elite user attended just 18 centre bounces last season.

Gryan Miers stood out at Cats training on Tuesday. Picture: Alison Wynd

Miers said a full-time midfield move is unlikely to come to fruition, but expect to see the running machine further up the ground this season.

“I think everyone wants to be a midfielder,” Miers said.

“I don’t think I’ll end up in there, but it’s always fun to get your hands on the ball and you get more of that around the midfield. I think I’m kind of a utility, I just use my running ability to be a link in the chain, and I think that’s where they’re going to use me this year, is just in different spots,” Miers said.

“I feel like I get the ball in the back pocket, sometimes I get it in the forward pocket. But I just want to be there to help the team where it needs be and I think that’s best by my running ability.”

The determined Miers certainly has the mindset to up his game.

“I want to be the best runner in the league, I want to be the best kick in the league, I want to be the tallest player in the league – I probably won’t get there – but all those things that I can try to do, I will be trying to do,” Miers said.

“I don’t think I’ll achieve them all, but if I can get one per cent better, all these different things, or if I steal something from a different player that I can do, it’ll make me just a little bit better and I might look like a completely different player to last year.”

DEFENDER OR RUCKMAN?

When Miers joined the midfield group, he was roving to Stanley and Sam De Koning.

De Koning, who underwent knee surgery in the off-season and returned pre-Christmas, also rucked in another boundary throw-in drill later in the session.

The athletic 204cm tall was thrown into the ruck late in the season – his first encounter coming against his brother Tom – to revamp their stale midfield and build his confidence.

Where coach Chris Scott decides to play De Koning will be a big watch during the pre-season games, but the Cats pride themselves on their flexibility.

“I think we try to be everything. I want him a small forward sometimes also. So we try to make a team that can play anywhere,” Miers said of De Koning.

“And I think that’s one of our biggest strengths is that you can work over Rhys all day, and then all of a sudden you have Mark Blicavs, one of the best runners in the league, on you.”

Rhys Stanley and Sam De Koning in the ruck during a drill. Picture: Alison Wynd

BAZ RARING TO GO

After being eased into things pre-Christmas, big-name recruit Smith is “hanging for round one” after missing the entire 2024 season with an ACL blow.

However, as was the case at the times at the Dogs, his kicking left a bit to be desired.

The Cats completed match simulation for part of the session where one team attempted to chip and run their way through the zone defence, and a couple of Smith’s errant kicks resulted in turnovers.

But the former Western Bulldog made up for it with a desperate running spoil while his side was defending.

Miers said his dedication and enthusiasm has stood out in his first pre-season at Kardinia Park.

“I think the thing that I love about him most is that he just loves footy and that he really wants to win and succeed on the footy field,” Miers said.

“He’s been fantastic, a lot of energy. He’s an absolute bubbly character that’s ready to blossom and I think he’s ready to go.

“He’s hanging for round one so he’s going to be really important for us. And I think we’re going to use him effectively.

“Just talking to him ten minutes ago, he’s trying to get every role correct for round one so we’re not waiting four of five weeks to get into it. He’s just ready to go and we can be a team straight away.”

Fellow off-season signing Jack Martin trained with the forwards throughout the session and kicked a clever crumbing goal at one stage.

Bailey Smith gives Mitch Knevitt a hug at Geelong Cats training. Picture: Alison Wynd

BREAKOUT CONTENDERS

Ollie Dempsey’s bumper 2024 pre-season was a sign of things to come as he took out the Rising Star award.

Miers has done some work with Geelong’s recruiting team, and his trained eye likes the look of 14-game midfielder Mitch Knevitt this pre-season.

“I’ve really loved Mitch Knevitt. people always put pressure on that first year to get that jump into the second year. But I think more of the blossoming comes in your third year, once you’ve had those two years of experience,” Miers said.

“And Mitch Knevitt I think is in his fourth now, he’s had two years of AFL and he’s really looking fantastic to me.”

He also feels Irish defender Oisin Mullin and forward-midfielder Ted Clohesy, a member of the 2024 VFL team of the year squad, are ready to take the next step.

“Ted Clohesy is in that group too, Oisin Mullin, guys that have been around the AFL, they’ve had the taste, but now they’re hungry and I reckon ready to jump in and play huge roles, kind of like Ollie Dempsey did last year.”

Watch out for second-year defender Connor O’Sullivan as well, who stood out in his bright orange boots on Tuesday.

The 198cm talent caught the eye in one play where he took an overhead mark back with the flight and then hit an outstretched Tyson Stengle up the ground.

Cam Guthrie at training on Tuesday. Picture: Alison Wynd

INJURY CONCERNS

Not all players were out there for the lighter session at GMHBA Stadium with captain Patrick Dangerfield among those taking it easy.

Promising young ruckman Toby Conway was unsighted on the track as he continues to be managed with back soreness.

Breakout forward Shaun Mannagh (foot) and the luckless Cam Guthrie both didn’t get involved in match simulation and kicked the Sherrin off to the side during drills with new Irishman Cillian Burke – who slotted a nice goal on the run later in the session that got a big reaction from his teammates.

Defender Zach Guthrie said a fortnight ago that Cam was still tracking well for the practice games and round one but the Cats have been cautious with him this pre-season after managing 10 senior games in the past two seasons.

High-flyer Ollie Henry had his left knee strapped but didn’t appear troubled at all, slotting a set shot in match simulation and completing run throughs at the end of the session.

Gryan Miers met Michael van Gerwyn during the off-season. Picture: Instagram

MESSI MEETS DARTS KING

The Lionel Messi comparisons returned when Miers produced the miraculous in last year’s preliminary final — including a soccer assist across goal.

And another world champion, Dutch darts king Michael van Gerwen, got the chance to see them.

“The only time I reckon I actually replayed (those highlights) was I met Michael van Gerwen in Ireland in the off-seaso,” Miers said.

My girlfriend was showing him a little bit of a flex to get some back and forth with him and he enjoyed it. Hopefully Michael van Gerwen can get us some tickets to the darts sometime as well.”

Gryanel Messi or Michael van Gryan?

Originally published as Geelong track watch: Gryan Miers primed for big 2025, Sam De Koning training as ruck and breakout contenders