In any other year Jarryd Lyons might have been the champ.
The 28-year-old backed up his stunning debut season with the Lions in 2019 with an even better one in 2020.
If it wasn’t for a bloke called Lachie Neale who collected the Brownlow medal, Leigh Matthews Trophy and AFL Coaches Association Champion Player on his way to the Merrett-Murray medal, Lyons might have been the Lion King.
His second-place finish was just reward for a season in which he not only provided stelar support for Neale, but also stepped up on the rare occasions the ball magnet had a quieter day.
Fourth in 2019 and now second in 2020.
— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) October 21, 2020
Prolific ball winner, dangerous in front of goals and relentless tackler. Jarryd Lyons receives the Nigel Lappin Trophy for Runner Up! ??#LionsClubChampion #Uncaged pic.twitter.com/1hPXK1dQWo
His 27 possession - one goal masterclass against Collingwood was a classic example as was the 14 contested possession slog in the wet against Sydney in round 17.On three other occasions the Lions coaching panel couldn’t split the pair when handing out Club Champion votes as they worked in tandem to secure wins.
Hi season highs for disposals came against Port Adelaide and the Pies with 27 while he won nine clearances in the arm wrestle with the Kangaroos.
Lyons also showed up when it mattered with one of his best performances of the year the qualifying final victory over the Tigers than ended the Club’s 11 year drought for post season victories.
He gathered 24 possessions and won seven clearances that night as the Lions advanced to the preliminary final.
