Inside the Gerard Whateley meme involving Gryan Miers and Lionel Messi that won’t go away

It was an internet meme falsely attributing a quote comparing Geelong’s Gryan Miers with Lionel Messi to Gerard Whateley. What happened next is how engaging makes things worse.

Gerard Whateley, memes, social media

He’s the Grovedale goalsneak who has suddenly become the most talked about man in footy.

Not for his selfless play or lethal forward craft, but for the fake tweet meme craze comparing Geelong’s Gryan Miers to soccer megastar Lionel Messi.

We understand Gerard Whateley’s frustration, having spent the past 24 hours attempting in vain to have the offending meme scrubbed from the internet.

The tweet suggesting he said Miers is up there with Messi is completely made-up. But that hasn’t stopped it going viral.

Messi v Miers: Who's the goat? Picture: Supplied

messi v miers - there's also merchandise

Whateley’s Wikipedia page is now in a minute-by-minute fight to block the Gryanel links, his name is trending on Twitter and the merchandise is now available to purchase online.

The original Whateley meme. Picture: Supplied

Gerard Whateley’s wikipedia page has been edited to include Gryanel links but continues to revert to the original. Picture: Supplied

Yes, Gryanel t-shirts and stubby holders are already up for grabs.

And the nation’s footy fans are having a ball on a fun Friday posting various links, jokes, tweets and memes.

“The word GOAT gets thrown around a lot these days, but I think you need to get to Australia and see Gryan Miers play for Geelong. He’s my inspiration. Gerard is bang on the money here.”

- Lionel Messi pic.twitter.com/DwVcFoQWBP

— Dylan Leach (@NedsDylan3Votes) July 13, 2023

Gryan Miers after 99 games:
75 goals
79 assists

Lionel Messi after 100 games:
41 goals
14 assists https://t.co/EnBvxwBOlY

— Lex (@alex_wilding_) July 13, 2023

A performance that would have made Gryan Miers proud. https://t.co/OQzbz1DH4d

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) July 13, 2023

You book flights and accommodation especially to watch Gryan Miers play, only for Chris Scott to make his usual last minute team change. pic.twitter.com/TK0UZPCOYg

— Brad (@bitey26) July 13, 2023

Even the Hawthorn-alligned Box Hill Football Club have joined in the fun.

It’s Miers’ 100th game against Essendon on Saturday night and you can bet your bottom dollar whose picture has already been posted on his locker.

Box Hill Hawks tweeted this meme on Thursday evening. Picture: Supplied

Hopefully he can snag a goal off the ground against the Bombers at GMHBA Stadium.

It would be one of the most joyous moments of the season.

And surely the focus will bolster his claims for All-Australian.

Or is that the Ballon d’Or?

Vamos Gryanel.

Originally published as Inside the Gerard Whateley meme involving Gryan Miers and Lionel Messi that won’t go away