Jarryd Lyons close to testing market after contract talks with Adelaide fail to enthuse Victorian

CROWS midfielder Jarryd Lyons is feeling the squeeze at West Lakes — both at selection and with the salary cap at the Adelaide Football Club.

Jarryd Lyons ... not happy with Crows’ offer. Picture: Sarah Reed

CROWS midfielder Jarryd Lyons is feeling the squeeze at West Lakes — both at selection and with the salary cap at the Adelaide Football Club.

And this will make the 24-year-old Victorian an eager target of Melbourne-based clubs in next month’s AFL trade period.

Lyons, a fourth-round draftee (No. 61 in the 2010 national recruiting call), remains without a contract for next season — and without an offer his management is prepared to take back to him.

But — with Adelaide still in the AFL finals race — the 53-game Lyons has stopped short of rebuffing “disappointing” offers from the Crows to declare an intent to seek a trade.

Adelaide’s salary cap — as those of all 18 AFL clubs — remains under tight control while the players hold off on signing a new collective bargaining agreement that would define the clubs’ total player payments for the next six seasons.

In the Crows’ case, the recent major signings of key forward Josh Jenkins and midfielder Brad Crouch have exacerbated that squeeze.

Lyons also is feeling the pinch as selection for Saturday night’s elimination final against North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval as Crows coach Don Pyke considers the merit of punting on the speed of Riley Knight.

Knight’s recall — for his second AFL game this season — on top of the certain returns of All-Australian midfielder Rory Sloane and half-back Brodie Smith has Lyons, Cam Ellis-Yolmen, David Mackay and Ricky Henderson all on edge.

All were in the 22 who lost to West Coast in Round 23 at the close of the home-and-away series.

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Originally published as Jarryd Lyons close to testing market after contract talks with Adelaide fail to enthuse Victorian