32-year-old Brisbane veteran Jarryd Lyons has made a call on his playing future, opting to retire from the AFL at the end of Brisbane's 2024 campaign.
Just six games short of an illustrious 200th game, Lyons had been unable to maintain a spot in a stacked Lions midfield through the last two years, managing just 10 matches in 2023 and three this season.
Many forget how prolific a midfielder Lyons was during his prime years from 2017-2022, averaging over 21 disposals each year of this stretch as one of the league's best ball winners and tacklers.
He even polled 23 Brownlow votes in 2021, averaging more than 28 disposals, six tackles and six clearances.
Lyons debuted in 2012 with the Adelaide Crows, taking time to find his feet before a breakout 2016 campaign, before a brief stint with the Suns.
He joined Brisbane ahead of 2019 after being shockingly delisted by the Gold Coast at the end of 2018, having spent just two seasons there averaging 25 touches.
“My career was at a bit of a crossroads, and this club gave me a lifeline,” Lyons said, reflecting after his call to hang up the boots.
“It could have just been a fledgling 100-game career, but you turned it into something that I am incredibly proud of. I could go on forever about how good this club is.
“Lastly to the boys, there's been hundreds of you come and go and lace up the boots with me and that's what makes this journey all worthwhile.
“Going into work each day with you lads is what I will miss the most.
“That's enough about me though. This group has got what it takes and let's make this last as long as we can and get to the end. I can't wait, let's do it.”
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan was especially glowing in his appraisal of the 32-year-old, calling back the seasons where he sat amongst the league's elite onballers.
“Over the next five or six years after arriving he became one of the best midfielders in the AFL,” Fagan said.
“He became one of the toughest guys to play against, one of the best stoppage players, one of the guys with the best hands and best footy brains.
“One year there you might have even finished high in the Brownlow.
“He played his best footy when he came to this club because he had a super attitude and wanted to get the best out of himself.
“I don't think you can walk away from AFL footy and think for one moment that you haven't extracted everything you can out of yourself.”
“We are better off as a footy club to have had you here for the last six or seven years and it's no coincidence that when you arrived, we started our rise up the ladder.”
While it seems no farewell match will be in order for the retiring veteran, Brisbane could send off their midfielder in style with a continued run of success this September, starting this Saturday against the Giants.