Lyons offered AFL future in Brisbane

Brisbane have snapped up out-of-favour Gold Coast midfielder Jarryd Lyons in a move that will shore up a future that was looking curiously bleak at the Suns.

Former Adelaide talent Lyons trailed just Patrick Cripps and Tom Mitchell for average clearances per game and was ninth for contested possessions competition-wide last season.

Despite that the ball magnet didn’t feature in the top-10 of the Suns’ best and fairest count and was dropped twice, with a lack of running ability cited as his major downfall.

The addition of Richmond duo Corey Ellis and Anthony Miles, as well as Geelong’s George Horlin-Smith during the AFL exchange period, saw Lyons fall further down the pecking order.

His shock delisting on Wednesday raised eyebrows, particularly with one year remaining on Lyons’ contract.

But the Lions have a far brighter view of the 26-year-old, who was willing to fight for his spot on the Gold Coast but found the offer to join younger brother Corey at the Gabba too hard to refuse.

“To be able to land a player of Jarryd’s status to our group post the trade period is a great credit to our club,” general manager of football David Noble said.

“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.

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

Lyons played 37 games in his two years at the Suns and had previously spent four seasons at the Crows, where he played 55 games.

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