Promising midfielder Jarryd Lyons resisted the lure of a return home and opportunities at Melbourne to stick with the Crows in the recent trade period.
Determined to bolster their midfield the Demons approached Lyons, whose father Marty played 27 games for the Club in the 1970s, about a potential move.
The 21-year-old agreed to meet with the Dees, but in the end knocked back the “easy” option of going home to Victoria and, most likely, immediately assuming a spot in Melbourne’s best 22.
“Melbourne contacted my manager, I didn’t go to them. It was a bit unexpected. I went in to the meeting open-minded, but I was very happy to stay here,” Lyons said.
“There was the lure of going back to Melbourne and getting games there. The opportunity would’ve been easy to take, but I love Adelaide and the Club, so it would’ve been tough to leave.
“I played nine games here last year even though I only had an okay season – not a great season – by my own expectations. My plan is to have a big pre-season here and get myself super fit.
“If I do that, I can see myself playing a few more games for the Crows next year.”
Lyons, who was overseas for part of the trade period, described it as a “hectic” offseason.
“There were a few whispers. It was in the newspapers that Brisbane might’ve been interested in me … and then Melbourne came along and people were talking about me leaving,” he said.
“It was drawn out because the trade period went for three weeks, and people were calling me and texting me, asking what was going on. I spoke to Sando and he was certainly keen for me to stay, and Nobes (David Noble) said the same thing to me at the end of the season.”
“It was a bit hectic for a while but in the end, I’m really happy with how it worked out.”
“I spoke to Sando and he was certainly keen for me to stay, and Nobes said the same thing to me at the end of the season.”
Recruited with pick No.61 in the 2010 AFL National Draft, Lyons has played 12 games for Adelaide.
The prolific ball winner amassed a career-best 21 possessions against North Melbourne in Round Nine, and also showed his skills in front of goal, slotting 4.1 against Collingwood at the MCG in Round 16.
Lyons is competing with the likes of Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane, Richard Douglas, Scott Thompson, Nathan van Berlo, Matthew Wright, Brad Crouch, Brodie Smith Sam Kerridge and Mitch Grigg for a spot in Adelaide’s midfield rotation.
He said he was prepared to put in the hard yards to cement his place.
“I need to add some outside run to my game and really get to peak fitness,” Lyons said.
“It’s my fourth pre-season and I’m really going to attack it hard.”
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