Jarryd Lyons Biography

Jarryd Lyons wins the J.J. Liston Trophy as the VFL's best and fairest player for 2023.

Lachie Neale wins the Merrett-Murray Medal as Brisbane's best and fairest for the 2020 AFL season.

Neale tallied 305 votes to finish in front of Jarryd Lyons (269) and Hugh McCluggage (237).

Jarryd Lyons has walked a road less travelled by AFL players, and will play in his 100th game this week as a Lion against the Western Bulldog at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.

"It's been a tough road. That was one thing I struggled with the most, early days, in my first two to three years, because I didn't play I was wondering whether I was good enough or not," Lyons said.

"Credit to Adelaide, they stuck with me for a long time and gave me that opportunity to show that I was good enough. I can't thank them enough for giving me the opportunity to play AFL."

He moved to Gold Coast in 2017 to become a regular member of the Suns' midfield and was mentored by Rodney Eade, Dean Solomon and Stuart Dew before his off-season switch to Chris Fagan's Lions.

"I've been affected, in good ways, by all the clubs," he said.

"It's been a long journey, but I wouldn't have it any other way, if I can use that cliché. I've made a lot of different friends inside and outside footy, I've travelled to three different cities now."

Jarryd Lyons says injury limited his 2018 season and was the reason for his dropping from the Suns' senior side.

"I was battling with my body and had surgery in the off-season," Lyons said.

"My running power wasn't quite there, and I can understand why I got dropped and have no hard feelings in that regard."

Following off-season ankle surgery, Lyons is confident that he will be back to his best.

"I've had the surgery now and come back bigger and stronger in the legs and more powerful, which is something I've focused on over the last eight weeks since I've had surgery," he said.

"I'm only 26 and still have a lot of footy ahead of me. I'm going to back myself in to play some good footy like I did in 2016."

Jarryd Lyons joins Brisbane as a delisted free agent on what is believed to be a three-year contract.

"Jarryd brings a level of maturity in his game to our club that will complement what we are putting together both in the midfield and forward lines," Lions football manager David Noble said.

"He certainly fits the strategy we have executed in the last 12 months of age and culture fit."

Jarryd Lyons agrees to sever ties to Gold Coast despite having a year to run on his contract.

"We added real depth to our midfield during the trade period and as a result Jarryd understands that his opportunities would be increasingly limited," list and strategy manager Craig Cameron said.

"With that being the case, the club and Jarryd have had a mature discussion and agree that another club may offer him greater opportunity to play in the midfield in the future."

Lyons is expected to be picked up by Brisbane as a delisted free agent following this decision.

Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew has challenged midfielder Jarryd Lyons to force his way back into the senior team by dominating at NEAFL level.

Lyons was dropped ahead of last weekend's loss to Geelong and, despite a number of injuries to the Suns, has again been left out of this week's team to play Greater Western Sydney.

"His work-rate was good last week and that's what we want to see," Dew said.

"We'd love him to dominate at NEAFL level. The talk with Jarryd is we want to see him get back to really good form."

As he prepares to face his former side, Jarryd Lyons says he has no regrets after leaving the Crows to join the Suns.

"I've made the decision and I'll live with that," he said.

"It's been great up here. I've really enjoyed the first pre-season and first few games up here."

Lyons says he expects a bit of banter from his former teammates in the lead-up to the game.

"It will be good to come up against the blokes I've played a lot of footy with - nerve-racking as well," he said.

"It was a pretty close club, I got along with everyone."

Jarryd Lyons could easily have ended up at Carlton during the 2016 trade period.

Lyons was the centre of much speculation during last year's NAB Trade Period, with his name linked to Carlton as Adelaide sought to lure Blues star Bryce Gibbs.

Once the Blues knocked back the offer, Lyons whittled away his suitors and landed with the Suns who were on the lookout for mature midfielders.

Last week against Hawthorn was easily his best game at the Suns, finishing with 30 disposals and an equal team high 10 clearances.

"That continuity of games, he's going to bring another hardened body in tight," Suns coach Rodney Eade said.

"He's very clean, he's tough in tight. He's a smart player. That experience again helps us."

Although admitting it was difficult to leave Adelaide, hard-nut midfielder Jarryd Lyons says he needed a fresh start and Gold Coast has been the perfect solution so far.

"It was really hard to leave the Crows, but coming here the boys have been terrific, really welcoming," Lyons said.

"There's a lot of care at the footy club, and I've embraced the decision and (I'm) really happy with it."

Although just 24 and with 55 career games, Lyons said he felt like an experienced player in the young group.

"I think it was more of a fresh start (that attracted me here)," he said.

"Opportunity and the challenge of playing in a team that wasn't quite up there, almost bringing the team up.

"A new environment, new people; it's something I decided to take the plunge with."

Jarryd Lyons is headed to Gold Coast after the Suns completed a trade with Adelaide.

Lyons and pick No.71 have been traded to the Suns in exchange for picks 43 and 67.

"Throughout the exchange period our priority was to bolster the playing list with mature-aged talent, and Jarryd fits that strategy," Gold Coast football manager Marcus Ashcroft said.

Jarryd Lyons requests a trade to Gold Coast.

Lyons had a breakout season in 2016, playing 20 games and averaging 21 disposals as he established himself in the Crows' best 22.

Despite Adelaide having an offer on the table for the 24-year-old, both club and player could not reach an agreement.

At least six clubs have expressed interest in Jarryd Lyons according to his manager Winston Rous.

"He played 20 games this year and his contested numbers were through the roof," Rous said.

"We're having ongoing discussions with the club around where he sits, and that’s been happening for about a month.

"Jarryd still has an intent to stay, but it's got to be something that's fair and works for all parties."

Jarryd Lyons' football future at Adelaide remains clouded but reports the midfielder has requested a trade are off the mark.

Lyons is due to come out of contract at the end of this season and is yet to reach an agreement with the Crows on a new deal.

News Corp reported that the Victorian had been "embarrassed" by a "paltry" contract offer made to him by the Crows and had sought a trade.

But AFL.com.au understands Lyons remains in talks with the Crows and could yet be at West Lakes in 2017.

Jarryd Lyons says he is happy to not be relegated to the green vest again after the AFL removed the sub rule for 2016.

The rule has plagued the underrated Adelaide midfielder's career to date. Last year he began eight games as the sub – joint most in the League along with Hawthorn's Billy Hartung.

"The last few years you find out you're in the side but then you're still wondering whether you're sub as well – it's almost a disappointment," Lyons said.

"You're in the side but then you think 'Oh, am I going to be sub or am I going to be playing'.

"Now if you're in the side then you're in and you're playing four quarters.

"It's obviously something now I can show what I can do, I guess, there's no shackles or anything holding me back – not a quarter where I've got to try and have 10 touches to keep myself in the side."

Richard Douglas says 2016 is the year for Jarryd Lyons to shine after the young Crows midfielder started nine of his career-best 13 games in 2015 as the sub.

"We had Kris Kringle and I think someone got him a sub's vest," Douglas joked.

"I think he (Lyons) wore it 12 times … it's hard for him to develop when he's playing probably a quarter, a quarter and a half max each week.

"He's been good around training and he's got to step up this year. He's got the talent, he's just missed the opportunity so this is his year, I'm sure."

Jarryd Lyons is back training after spending eight days in hospital before Christmas.

"I think I was bitten when I was home in bed asleep on the Wednesday night," Lyons said.

"I can't be 100 per cent sure because I didn't see it. It felt a bit like a mozzie bite, so I didn't think much of it but it just kept getting worse.

"On Thursday, my calf started to get sore and swollen, so I didn't train on the Friday.

"On Sunday, my leg had gotten even bigger and all my lymph nodes were blown up.

"By Monday afternoon, I was in the emergency department."

Jarryd Lyons looks set to stay with Adelaide despite attracting interest from other clubs during the NAB AFL Trade Period.

St Kilda inquired about the out-of-contract youngster, who also attracted interest from Melbourne at the end of 2013.

However Lyons is understood to have recently had a productive meeting with newly appointed coach Phil Walsh and, after careful consideration, he is confident he can develop his career with the Crows.

Jarryd Lyons wants to remain a Crow next season, but says with strong interest from rival clubs, he may have to explore opportunities elsewhere if he cannot become a regular at AFL level with Adelaide.

"I'm pretty settled in here so it'd be hard to leave, but at the moment I'm just trying to get back in the side and the opportunity hasn't gone my way this year," Lyons said.

"There's still four games to go though, so I'm still backing myself and trying to get back in and see where I go from there.

"If Adelaide don't want to sign me then I'd have to look somewhere else."

Jack Ziebell is handed a three-match suspension for a bump on Crow Jarryd Lyons leading Geelong and Sydney coaches Chris Scott and John Longmire to question the future of the bump.

"I haven't really wasted too much time thinking about it (the Ziebell ban), and I think that's the approach that most people should take to the match review panel," Scott said.

"If you try to work it out you'll just tear your hair out and end up very confused and frustrated. They are so inconsistent that any sort of predictions, when it comes to the Match Review Panel, are a waste of time."

"The hard thing from Jack's incident is it looked like he went in to smother. It's very difficult in that situation," Longmire said.

"But I think it's getting to the stage where the bump, obviously you do it at your own risk.

"You're not quite sure what the outcome will be, you're not quite sure what the other player will do, so you're better off maybe putting it in the kit bag and trying to tackle or put some pressure on."

Jarryd Lyons has re-signed with Adelaide, agreeing on a new two-year deal.

"We've had such a successful year so far and to be a part of it, playing three games and debuting this year has been really good," Lyons said.

"I took massive confidence out of those three games. To be able to crack into the side, and it was such a tough side to crack into as well, and play three games on the trot was really good.

"It was great for my development and it's an exciting time here. I'm happy with where the club is going and I definitely want to stay."

Jarryd Lyons makes his AFL debut for Adelaide at Football Park with 14 disposals (5 kicks and 9 handballs), 2 marks and 3 tackles in a 19-point win over Port Adelaide.