The Blueseum wrote:
http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Des+Lyons
Just the basics, but can confirm he played 2 games only and was recruited from country NSW. You saw him? Anything you could add? Anything would be of value.
From the Blueseum
I know Des personally but he's got a lot of years on me. As I said big chested man who had the knack of hanging in the air. Here's bit of info I picked up on him from Sporting Pulse (a good nostalgic site for any Riverina people here):
http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page ... &sID=13441BLAST FROM THE PAST
Once again this year we are running the popular feature Blast from the Past. We will endeavour to cover as vast a cross section as possible across the Riverina and we trust that you find it interesting reading. This week we cover the career of one of the most gifted players of his time as his resume confirms. Today we revive the career of former Leeton player, Des Lyons.
Name: Des Lyons
Details of Playing / Coaching Career: Played first game with Barellan at age 14, 1952-53-54. At the end of 1954 at 16 was invited to train with Collingwood. In 1955 trained at Collingwood, returned to play CHF for Leeton. 1956 - Leeton. 1957 - returned home to Barellan. 1958-61 - Leeton. 1962 - coached Moombooldool in the Barellan League. 1963-65 - Leeton. 1966 - Barellan. 1967-69 Leeton.
In 1960 played CHF in First Grade for Carlton but not much money in it at that time and returned home to family and business. 1963-64 played in the winning SWDFL Country Championships. Represented SWDFL 20 times. Played against Collingwod, Carlton and Geelong. Played for Ovens & Murray against South Melbourne. Represented Riverina against Ovens & Murray. Played in 13 finals series in 18 years. 7 Grand Finals with 3 Premierships.
Awards / Medals Received: Won the Gammage Medal twice - 1958 at Centre Half Forward and 1963 as a Ruckman. Leeton Best & Fairest 1963-64. Won SWDFL Goal Kicking in 1967. In 1958 won the Wagga Daily Advertiser trophy for the Footballer of the Year. Made a Life Member of the Leeton Football Club.
Favourite Playing Position: Centre half forward and Ruck
Most Respected Opponents: I respected all my opponents, many of whom were top class players. In my era each club had players good enough to play in Melbourne but like myself chose to stay in the bush.
Best Player Seen: Bob Rose - Collingwood
AFL Club I Follow: Carlton
Current Occupation: Retired
Where do you see local AFL heading in the future? The future of local AFL is in the hands of promotion of Junior Football.
As you can see from Des's resume he was a very, very good player. Most player's dream of winning a League Best & Fairest Award but Des was good enough to win it twice. And as he said there were plenty of good players around the bush at that particular time. He excelled in the two hardest positions to play on the field - centre half forward and the ruck. It was ironic that he won a Gammage Medal whilst playing at CHF in 1958 and whilst playing in the ruck in 1963. Throw in a couple of club Best & Fairest Awards and a local paper award and you can see that Des was a very decorated player. He was also very loyal as he played five years with Barellan and eleven years with Leeton. Des was picked in every representative side that was going around and he always made himself available for these fixtures. He was a prominent player in the three premierships that he was a part of and also the finals series that he played in. In short, Des Lyons is a favourite son of the Leeton Football Club and is regarded as one of their finest ever players. Des only gets to home games know so if you see him there today give him a yell and tell him that you enjoyed his Blast from the Past.
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