Could ex- Saint Paddy McCartin be the answer to Melbourne's injury woes up forward? Garry Lyon believes so.

The former Pick 1 has not played since 2019 after getting forced into medical retirement due to ongoing concussion problems.

McCartin, 24, has reportedly been training with the Swans over the pre-season - where his younger brother Tom plays - in hopes of securing an AFL lifeline.

But speaking on SEN radio this morning, Lyon thinks Melbourne could be a better landing spot following injuries to key forwards Ben Brown and Sam Weideman.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 26: Paddy McCartin of the Saints gestures after missing a shot on goal during the round 10 AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the St Kilda Saints at Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 26, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

โ€œWould you get Paddy McCartin to come and train for the next six weeks?โ€ Lyon put forward on SEN Breakfast.

โ€œTheyโ€™re going to have to get some backup arenโ€™t they? Tom McDonald might now have to play more key forward than they were thinking."

Last week Brown underwent knee surgery after experiencing swelling in the area, which will sideline him for the early rounds of the season.

Additionally, the Demons announced yesterday that Weideman was expected to be out for the up to three months after scans revealed a stress fracture in his right leg.

Lyon reports that McCartin is in excellent physical condition, going so far to say "I've never see him look as good as he's looked".

โ€œHeโ€™s training with Sydney, heโ€™s fit, heโ€™s been given the all clear,โ€ he said.

โ€œIโ€™ve never seen him look as good as heโ€™s looked, but thatโ€™s without playing footy.

โ€œIs it worth a little hail mary, to say โ€˜Paddy boy, come and have a run?โ€™

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 28: Paddy McCartin of the Saints marks the ball against Caleb Marchbank of the Blues during the JLT Community Series AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the St Kilda Saints at Ikon Park on February 28, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

McCartin was taken by St Kilda with the first pick of the 2014 AFL draft ahead of Demon Christian Petracca.

The big man booted 34 goals from 34 games during his AFL career from 2015-2019 before getting forced into medical retirement.

All up he had eight different separate concussions during his playing days.

The Demons could add McCartin to its list up until the March 9 pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP) deadline.

Melbourne face theย Western Bulldogsย in their sole pre-season clash on March 8 at Marvel Stadium before opening their season proper againstย Fremantleย on March 20 at the MCG.