Lyons carving out a niche in the middle

[bigman]

Lyon has been a favourite of mine for some time.

Even though he has largley gone under the radar over in Victoria he has been a very valuable player for the side in the last few weeks and he will only get better in my opinion as his confidence grows.

What spearates him from many others is his decison making?

He makes good decisons when under pressure and he has added to our midfield depth in recent weeks.

In fact he often makes better decisions than players like Thompson or the captain when he gets the ball. Have a look at some of his centre square work in the last quarter.

He can also play forward and can be a very influential player there. He like Kerridge can have days where he can kick multiple goals and he is a good shot for goal. We have not seen that yet but will!!

He can also play tall and take some freakish marks - we have also yet to see this at this level.

Lots to look forward too here.

Now if we could only get Aiden in the side as well. Rumour has it Sando has a two ranga policy, so Riley will only get in if Lynchy or Sauce goes out.

 

[headache1]

I've really liked the look of him so far. He has composure in the tight contested stuff that you wouldn't normally expect from a player with so few games of AFL experience under his belt.

 

[Thylacinus]

Lyon has been a favourite of mine for some time.

Even though he has largley gone under the radar over in Victoria he has been a very valuable player for the side in the last few weeks and he will only get better in my opinion as his confidence grows.

What spearates him from many others is his decison making?

He makes good decisons when under pressure and he has added to our midfield depth in recent weeks.

In fact he often makes better decisions than players like Thompson or the captain when he gets the ball. Have a look at some of his centre square work in the last quarter.

He can also play forward and can be a very influential player there. He like Kerridge can have days where he can kick multiple goals and he is a good shot for goal. We have not seen that yet but will!!

He can also play tall and take some freakish marks - we have also yet to see this at this level.

Lots to look forward too here.

Good stuff, Bigman. I didn't see a lot of Lyons early for various reasons but have been very keen to following the form he has shown in the SANFL. He has impressed me as a natural footballer and agree with you regarding decision making. I have noticed he can use it quickly from pressurred situations which for a young kid shows talent. I had read about his ability to go forward. I am looking forward to him getting games under his belt and bulking up a fraction more. He has made a very good start with considerable more upside to come one would think. We are fortunate to have these youngsters coming on. They mean we really have dodged the bullet with the draft pick penalties

 

[bigman]

Good stuff, Bigman. I didn't see a lot of Lyons early for various reasons but have been very keen to following the form he has shown in the SANFL. He has impressed me as a natural footballer and agree with you regarding decision making. I have noticed he can use it quickly from pressurred situations which for a young kid shows talent. I had read about his ability to go forward. I am looking forward to him getting games under his belt and bulking up a fraction more. He has made a very good start with considerable more upside to come one would think. We are fortunate to have these youngsters coming on. They mean we really have dodged the bullet with the draft pick penalties

Agree.

Can also work on his burst speed too but he has got good lateral movement.

 

[Allefgib]

I always love a bigman player endorsement.

 

[Kerleys Ghost]

clearance machine...

but would like to see some more bulk on him so he can become a clearance god.

heard a lot about this guy, but never seen much of him until a few weeks ago.

really looks a likely sort.

yet another addition to the Rendell legacy no doubt?

 

[Elder van Berlo]

I've spent some time just watching the stoppages from last week's game. Lyons was comfortably our standout performer. Like, nobody even came close comfortable. More or less single handedly got us back in it in the second quarter.

I knew he played well at the time, but seriously, if you have the game recorded do yourself a favour and fast forward to the centre clearances in Q2. You will see what I mean.

 

[macca23]

I always love a bigman player endorsement.

Bigman's history with young players is unparalleled IMO.

If he says they'll be good, they almost always will be.

What Kerleys Ghost said a couple of posts above was the thing that struck me personally about Lyons' game. He has the makings of a clearance king.

 

[moogerfooger]

he was very very impressive against North. really helped get us back into the game in the 2nd quarter. he must stay in the side now as long as he can maintain his form. you can already see him stepping up to pick up the slack as Thommo inevitably declines in his final years.

 

[Cap]

Kerridge and Lyon both appear to have something that the Crows lacked a bit of ....footy nous.

 

[Godallblighty]

Does not panic. Love that in a midfielder. Well, any player, but particularly a midfielder.

 

[spenze]

If I remember rightly he was second in his draft camp for decision making under pressure, though didn't figure highly in the sprint tests.

 

[betterthanu]

Kinda reminds me of Sam Mitchell in his work in close. Will be interesting to see how he develops this year.

 

[iamcorky]

Yeh tell tale thing will be to see how he tracks later this year

 

[Skippy231]

I was really impressed with what Lyons has brought to the midfield and he seems to find space even when being tackled and twist and turn out of traffic with ease

 

[Bacon8]

Who's Lyon?

 

[weekend at bernies]

I've spent some time just watching the stoppages from last week's game. Lyons was comfortably our standout performer. Like, nobody even came close comfortable. More or less single handedly got us back in it in the second quarter.

I knew he played well at the time, but seriously, if you have the game recorded do yourself a favour and fast forward to the centre clearances in Q2. You will see what I mean.

His 2nd QTR was brilliant!!

 

[ftmch]

Something that has stood out for me is his ability up in the tackle, free his arms up over his shoulders and get clean disposal away, where many others would probably have been pinned. That's genuine footy instinct.

Great call bigman.

 

[Skippy231]

Who's Lyon?

I think he played for Melbourne (before they were horrible) for about 226 matches

 

[spexau]

He's also one of the first Crows players I've seen in a while hit the ball at pace in the center square. He's done it 3 or 4 times already where he reads where the ball is going and grabs it at full tilt. Very impressive.

 

[androidtommy]

I thought he had a few errors in the 1st quarter against North but pulled it together and was good after qtr time. Was sitting next to my dad at the game and he wasnt impressed at first, came around at the end. He didnt rate kedge much at the start of the game either but changed him mind pretty quick

 

[rocket18]

Didn't know much about him, but he has really impressed. His clearance work is great for someone so young - show up a few of our more experienced players.

It has been a long time since we have so many good young players coming through.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

I am just relieved he is finally getting a decent run after such outstanding SANFL form.

 

[Mismatched]

Must say that I like having a clearance midfielder who has a bit more finesse in how he approaches the stoppages and clears the ball. For a while I think our club has been a little too obsessed with having the biggest, strongest and hardest midfielders in our centre square, ignoring players with a superior ability to read the ball off hands and carve through traffic like a knife through butter. We've been too quick to send these guys to the wings/flanks, instead preferring the "see ball, get ball", hardnut types like Thompson, Dangerfield, Sloane, van Berlo, Wright, Shirley, Reilly etc over the past 10 years or so. Whereas the likes of McLeod, Vince, even Douglas and perhaps Smith have been ejected to the flanks. Now that's not to say there is anything wrong with the "see ball, get ball" types, there isn't, I just think we have had the balance a little out of kilter.

Personally I think we wasted McLeod having him spend basically the latter half of his career as purely an outside flanker. McLeod was absolutely elite around the stoppages and if your in any doubt about this, go watch some of his work in 2000-2002.

This is not to compare Lyons to McLeod, but I feel he's one who can offer a great balance to our largely crash and bash midfield, through his ability to read the ball of hands early and thus be a step ahead of his opposition.

 

[DJ75]

Kinda reminds me of Sam Mitchell in his work in close. Will be interesting to see how he develops this year.

This is what I see as well. Can really see him heading this way