Jarryd Lyons has emerged as a handy midfielder/forward cog in a strong finalist side this year. A midfielder who can work both on the inside and outside, Lyons played a solid role in filling gaps for the Crows this year, his first full year in the senior team.
Lyons played 20 games including finals, after spending a fair amount of time in the SANFL in previous years on the fringe of breaking through. With the departures of Prestia and O’Meara the Suns need players that can contribute consistently at AFL level, and Lyons does just that.
Lyons’ recent emergence and previous fringe status combine to suggest a future output equal to about pick 16, with fair unders stretching back into the 40s range. Lyons may be underrated by the HPN formula if anything.
Lyons has been traded for the lower end of the reasonable range. With pick 43 now Adelaide’s second pick in the draft and a Gibbs trade maybe pending, gaining some draft position may have factored into Adelaide’s decision-making.
Verdict: Fair trade, but Gold Coast might end up ahead in the long run.