Jarryd Lyons faces prospect of being left out of Brisbane’s team for semi-final against Melbourne

Once an automatic selection in Brisbane’s best 22, a Lions star is facing the reality of not being chosen for the semi-final battle with Melbourne.

Jarryd Lyons will find it tough to be recalled to Brisbane’s team. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

There will be no room for sentiment in Brisbane’s selection meeting this week, with the previously untouchable Jarryd Lyons in grave danger of being overlooked for the Lions’ do-or-die semi-final against Melbourne on Friday night at the MCG.

Before Brisbane’s two-point elimination final win over Richmond at the Gabba last Thursday night, Lyons had played in all of the Lions’ 89 AFL matches since he joined the club before the start of the 2019 season.

However, the 30-year-old midfielder missed the win over the Tigers with groin soreness, but then in a surprise, played for Brisbane’s VFL team that beat Carlton less than 48 hours later.

Perhaps battling niggling injuries, Lyons’ AFL form dipped in the latter stages of the regular season, with his average of 19 disposals from nine games after Brisbane’ mid-season bye being down on his 2021 average of 28.1.

His replacement last Thursday night – the quicker Deven Robertson – did very little wrong in a heroic team performance.

And with the Lions also needing to find space in their top 22 for Cam Rayner and Noah Answerth, who are both again available after serving a one-game suspension, it’s going to be tough to also recall Lyons.

Jarryd Lyons will find it tough to be selected in Brisbane’s team for Friday night’s battle with Melbourne. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Lions great Simon Black feared for Lyons’ selection hopes.

“They (the Brisbane midfield) have got to cover the ground, and I’m not sure he’s been able to cover the ground in recent times,” the three-time premiership winner said.

“I’d be a bit hesitant.”

Lions midfielder Hugh McCluggage said whether to choose Lyons would be a “selection dilemma” for coach Chris Fagan.

“I think he (Lyons) made the decision not to play (against Richmond), and he ran out for the VFL (team) and he did well out there,” McCluggage said.

“He put his hand up. He’s been a great contributor for us for a long time, so we know that if he comes back in, he’ll play a really great game for us.”

A collective “great game” will be needed by the Lions if they are to win at the MCG for the first time since 2014 and end the premiership defence of the Demons, who are at risk of being knocked out of the finals in straight sets after their loss to Sydney last Friday night.

“Everyone will be saying that there’s more pressure on them, but for us, we put a lot of expectations on ourselves,” McCluggage said.

“We’ve been in three of four final series now where we haven’t done what we want to do, so I think there’s some pressure on both sides, for sure.

“I really don’t want to think about losing.”

Originally published as Jarryd Lyons faces prospect of being left out of Brisbane’s team for semi-final against Melbourne