GRYAN Miers starred in the Geelong Falcons’ 2017 TAC Cup Grand Final win, after the Sandringham Dragons had a chance to kick a goal after the siren for the win. Read the full match report here.

Matt Balmer’s scouting notes:

Geelong Falcons:

#4 Gryan Miers – Seven goals – ’nuff said. I tweeted after he’d kicked his first two goals that he was a second rounder and I think he consolidated that thought, finishing with 7.2 from 16 disposals. While his kicking technique does need some work, it is effective. His first goal of the game was mighty impressive on his left foot and one that may find himself drafted in the early second round.

#8 Ed McHenry – The bottom-ager was again impressive and put his hand up for AFL Academy honours. His hands in close are very good and he was able to fire the ball out to the link players effectively. He is an effective kick going forward and found 21 disposals for the game.

#11 Mitch Chafer – When the Falcons were up and firing in the third term, Chafer really got going after a quiet start. He is willing to work hard both ways and tackle his opponents. Had eight of his 14 disposals in the “premiership quarter.”

#22 Sam Walsh – The bottom-ager is arguably the best midfielder in the 2018 NAB AFL Draft. Walsh led the stats sheet with 30 disposals, seven inside 50s and won five clearances. Walsh linked up well on the outside and worked very hard at the stoppages. Whilst not all his kicks inside 50 were effective, his ball winning ability is outstanding.

#44 Sam Conway – The Geelong College student has a few suitors at AFL level and may wind up a draft selection – as a real riser in the second half of the year. Conway is a very raw ruckman who is often made to handball the ball to his midfielders, but he can mark well around the ground and has plenty of traits that’ll appeal to a club looking for a ruckman.

#49 Dane Hollenkamp – Like Conway, Hollenkamp’s improvement this year has been exceptional. In the ruck, he has shown improvement and at times backs himself to take it out of the ruck and handball it out to a teammate. At ground level, he is clean and can win the ground balls and get it out to a teammate. Hollenkamp finished with 10 disposals and 12 hitouts and like Conway – may find himself in draft calculations.

Sandringham Dragons

#6 Charlie Constable – There was plenty of doubt on Constable coming into the game with a groin injury, but Constable showed his class in the opening half of the match – turning the game in the second quarter with the first two goals of the quarter. Constable is able to play up forward and mark the football. His clearance work was good, and off limited game time he was able to get 23 disposals and four clearances.

#8 Will Walker – Walker’s clearance work around the ground was impressive and he was able to get the ball on his boot and bang it forward. While at times his kicking can be hit and miss, most of his kicks went long and were effective. He wins the contested ball and Walker was able to push forward and boot two goals – and may himself drafted inside the top 30.

#9 Andrew Brayshaw – Brayshaw just gets to the right positions and is a clean ball user by hand and foot. The Falcons sat Harry Benson on him and at times he was under enormous pressure and resulted in him handballing out of the stoppages in more occasions than not. His contested numbers were slightly down, but he was able to bring the ball inside 50 throughout the game. Laid a match-high 11 tackles and pushed hard in the final term.

#20 Kai Owens – In the first 15 minutes of the final quarter, Owens had five disposals, four marks and booted three goals. When the game was looking for a player to stand up, Owens was the man who got the Dragons back into the game – using his leap and his agility up forward.

#29 Joel Amartey – A lot has been said about his after the siren miss, but the Dragons ruckman has been a big improver since Round 1. Was the clear best ruckman on the day with 27 hitouts, but his pressure and tackling around the ground was an important facet of the game. I think he might find a home in the back half of the draft.

#30 Hayden McLean – Thought it was Hayden McLean’s best game for the season. His first half in particular saw McLean show some signs of what had been hoped from the AFL Academy member this year. McLean took four marks in the opening quarter, as well as booting a goal. Finished the day with 12 disposals and seven marks. Boosted himself up a touch with a good Grand Final game.