Geelong assist machine Gryan Miers closing in on Brisbane great’s record

Geelong forward Gryan Miers has significantly closed in on the record for most goal assists in a single season - since the statistic was recorded - after adding five more to his 2023 tally against Port Adelaide.

The career-best haul sees Miers' total rise to 37 goal assist from his 20 games so far this year, equating to a mean of 1.85 per outing for the Cats' local product.

Miers has 13 more goal assists than the next best in the AFL this year in Demons star Christian Petracca, while only three more players in the league have managed to record at least 20 goal assists in 2023 - one of which being Miers' teammate Patrick Dangerfield.

The unorthodox Cats flanker has enjoyed a breakout campaign, transitioning from a reliable conduit player in Geelong's forward third to a catalyst in their premiership prospects season.

That transformation was on show on Saturday night, with Miers again among Geelong's best performers, amassing a team-high 24 disposals and 12 score involvements in the two-goal win.

Five of those involvements included Miers handing off the ball in the final link of the scoring chain to see the Cats goalsneak now eight goal assists away from claiming the outright single-year record.

Brisbane champion Jason Akermanis holds the record for most goal assists in a campaign since the statistic was recorded, with the triple-premiership Lion recording 39 in the 2004 home and away season and a further five in finals.

With three games remaining in the season for Miers before September arrives, the 24-year-old is on track to surpass Akermanis' home and away record, and could go even further if the Cats can secure a spot in the top eight.

Miers' five goal assists against the Power also saw the Cats' livewire edge past former Geelong forward Cameron Mooney's 2008 haul of 36 to sit second, while five more players had managed to record 33 goal assists in a single season across the past 20 years.

Most goal assists in a season

Since stat was first recorded in 2003 (via AFL Tables)

Heading toward Round 22, Miers might struggle to match Akermanis' total of six goal assists from the same round in 2004 against North Melbourne - which stands as the equal-fifth most in a single game.

Another ex-Cat in Steve Johnson holds the single-game record with 10 goal assists in Geelong's record-breaking 186-point win over Melbourne 12 years ago, while Johnson's old teammate Travis Varcoe, Coleman Medal winner Jonathan Brown and AFL great Chris Judd each recorded seven goal assists in a game.

Most goal assists in a game

Since stat was first recorded in 2003 (via AFL Tables)

Miers and the Cats face Collingwood, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs in their final three games of the season and will likely need at least two more wins to book themselves a spot in the top eight.

Having already faced the Magpies and Dogs this year, if Miers can replicate the three goal assists he managed in both of those prior performances this year, the Cats forward will snap Akermanis' home and away season record and sit just one behind the Brisbane great's finals-including haul of 44.

Miers has gone without a goal assist in just two games this year and has managed to record at least one goal assist in his past 11 games - totalling 23 in that time.

Adelaide and Carlton great Eddie Betts holds the all-time record for goal assists since the metric was recorded with 318 from his 350 games, sitting ahead of current greats Tom Hawkins (291 assists from 346 games) and Scott Pendlebury (283 from 377).

Miers has totalled 88 goal assists from his 103 games with the Cats.