A piece of history on the cards: If Melbourne breaks through for an historic flag, it will be Kyabram's Garry Lyon who presents the premiership cup to the team. For more, see inside sport.
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Darren Linton
Kyabram’s Garry Lyon admits he became very emotional when he was first asked to present the premiership cup to the Melbourne players if they win this Saturday’s AFL grand final.
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‘‘Humbled, ‘‘good as it gets’’, ‘‘it’s what footy is about’’ were Lyon’s reaction last week when Melbourne’s chief executive Gary Pert asked him to do the honours.
Lyon ticks off another box in Kyabram’s rich sporting history with the honour even if the worst comes to worst if you are a Demons supporter and Melbourne falls at the final hurdle.
Lyon was not even born when Melbourne last won a flag and the enormity of his club’s invitation was a gesture he rates as up with the most significant of the many accolades he has attained in a stellar playing and media career.
‘‘It’s right there at the top as far as I’m concerned,’’ Lyon said.
Lyon admits he did not see Western Bulldogs’ preliminary final win coming, but he was always confident his beloved Demons would beat Geelong to book their place in the season decider.
And Lyon is confident without being cocky long-suffering Melbourne fans will have something to celebrate when the final siren sounds on Saturday.
‘‘The Bulldogs can never be underestimated, but I’m confident we can win,“ he said.
“Maybe by two or three goals but I hope its more because I don’t want the old heart having to take too much.”
Lyon said if Melbourne’s much-lauded defence could keep the Western Bulldogs to 10 or 12 goals the Demons should win.
The holy grail: Garry Lyon will present the 2021 version of the AFL Premiership Cup to Melbourne if the Demons are successful this season. Picture: AAP.
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AAP
‘‘Both have great midfields and supremacy there will go a long way in deciding the outcome,’’ Lyon, one of Melbourne’s most decorated footballers, said.
In 226 games with the club he captained Melbourne for seven years, won two club best and fairest awards, was a five-time All Australian and also had stints captaining and vice-captaining the Victorian side in interstate clashes.
He has also had to undergo a test of patience to be able to be at Saturday’s game.
Under COVID-19 restrictions in Western Australia he had to do two weeks quarantine in Perth while still meeting media commitments for the grand final build up and game day.
‘‘I was alone (in quarantine) and passed the time by getting an exercise bike onto a verandah. I also had early morning radio commitments back in Melbourne, which meant I had to get up at 2.30am due to time difference,’’ Lyon said.
And Lyon had a word for Kyabram and district’s Melbourne supporters if the Demons did it.
He said if it was possible he would ― in Danny O’Brien style ― try to bring the premiership cup back to Kyabram and let Melbourne supporters in this area savour the moment.
Kyabram-raised O’Brien bought the Melbourne Cup back to his home town in 2019 after the horse he trains, Vow And Declare, fended off the International raiders to win Australia’s most famous horse race.
Lyon’s parents, Kyabramites Bev and Peter, could not have been happier for their famous son’s honour to present the premiership cup if Melbourne is premier.
‘‘We are extremely proud and happy for him because he deserves it,’’ said Bev, who added she and her husband would watch the grand final from home.
‘‘We like to take it all in without any interruptions, so we will be having a quiet time at home watching it and hoping Melbourne can do it,’’ Bev said.
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