Garry Lyon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Garry Lyon |
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Lyon in 2008
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Garry Peter Lyon | ||
| Date of birth | 13 September 1967 | ||
| Place of birth | Devonport, Tasmania | ||
| Original team | Kyabram (GVFL) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre half-forward | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Representative
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Garry Peter Lyon, born on September 13, 1967, is a famous former Australian rules football player. He was the captain of the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). After he stopped playing, Garry became a well-known sports personality. He appeared on television, radio, and in newspapers. He also coached the Australian team in the International Rules Series. Garry Lyon is famous for kicking ten goals in a final game in 1994. This was a rare achievement, not seen in 43 years!
Contents
Early Life and Football Start
Garry Lyon was born in Devonport, Tasmania. His dad, Peter Lyon, also played football for the Hawthorn Football Club. When Garry was young, his family moved to Victoria. He grew up in a town called Kyabram. There, he played local football for the Kyabram Bombers.
His great talent was noticed by the Melbourne Football Club. They chose him to play for their team. To follow his dream, Garry moved to Melbourne for his later school years. He finished his schooling at Melbourne High School.
Playing Career Highlights
Joining the VFL/AFL
Garry Lyon joined the Melbourne Football Club in 1986. He quickly became a very strong player in the Victorian Football League (VFL). This league later changed its name to the Australian Football League (AFL). In 1990, he won his first Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal. This award is given to Melbourne's best and fairest player.
Becoming Melbourne's Captain
Garry became Melbourne's captain in 1991. He was the longest-serving captain in the club's history for a time. He was known for playing even with many back injuries. His determination on the field inspired his teammates. His captaincy ended after the 1997 AFL season due to concerns about his injuries.
End of His Playing Days
Garry Lyon won two best and fairest awards for Melbourne. He was also named in the All-Australian team three times. His playing career ended in 1999 because of ongoing back problems. He played 226 VFL/AFL games and kicked 426 goals. This makes him one of Melbourne's top goal-kickers ever.
Playing for Victoria
Garry also had a successful career playing for Victoria in State of Origin games. He first played for Victoria in 1988. In 1994, he was given the great honor of being named captain of the Victorian team. He loved playing State of Origin. He has said that training and playing with the best players was a "dream come true." He believes today's great players should also get this chance.
Life After Football: Media Star
Early Media Work
Garry Lyon's media career started in the early 1990s. He hosted a children's TV show about AFL called AFL Squadron. Later, he moved into radio. He worked on stations like 3AW and SEN 1116. In 2007, he joined Triple M to commentate on games.
TV Presenter and Columnist
Garry became a regular on The AFL Footy Show while still playing. In 2006, he became a host of the show alongside James Brayshaw. He also worked on The Sunday Footy Show. Garry writes a column for The Age newspaper. He has also helped write children's books, including the Specky Magee series.
Recent Media Roles
In 2017, Garry Lyon returned to SEN radio. He co-hosted their breakfast show with Tim Watson. That same year, he joined Fox Footy. He became a commentator and panelist on the show On The Couch. Since 2022, he has hosted On The Couch and commentated on Friday Night Football. In 2025, he started co-hosting AFL 360 on Fox Footy.
Garry had a special moment in 2021. He presented the 2021 AFL premiership cup to Melbourne's captain, Max Gawn, and coach, Simon Goodwin. This happened in Perth after the Demons won their first championship in 57 years.
Coaching Experience
After retiring from playing, Garry Lyon also tried coaching. He coached the Australia international rules football team. He led the team for four years, starting in 2001. His team won two of the four series they played.
Many people thought he might become a coach for the Melbourne Football Club. However, Garry chose not to follow that path. In 2009, he coached the Victorian under-16 team at the AFL championships.
Images for kids
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Garry Lyon in 2008
