Lyon believes game will go past Lewis in coming years

Former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon believes new Demons recruit Jordan Lewis will not be able to play out his three-year contract with Melbourne.

Lewis made the switch from Hawthorn over the off-season, and was traded to Melbourne with picks 57 and 68 in exchange for picks 48 and 66.

The 31-year-old has played eight games for his new club so far in 2017, but has seen a decline in his numbers, led by a four-year low for disposals per game (25.5), and is averaging just 2.5 inside 50s a game, the second lowest season average in his career.

Despite still making a positive impact for the Demons this season, Lyon said he struggles to see Lewis being able to keep up with the pace of the game over the coming years.

“I’d be surprised if he plays the whole three years,” Lyon told SEN Breakfast on Thursday morning.

“He has influenced games more than Sam (Mitchell). He has been enormous on occasions, behind the footy, throwing himself behind the ball, controlling, dictating, his ball use is superb still. All those things have been great.

“There will be moments where Goody (coach Simon Goodwin) will look at it and think, this is too quick for Jordan. We need to get him off or deploy him somewhere else.”

There were moments in Melbourne's crucial Queen's Birthday win over Collingwood that reaffirmed Lyon's thoughts, as Lewis was caught for pace on several occasions.

The four-time premiership player struggled in the early stages of the contest, and only found himself around the ball late, after the pace had gone from the game.