Dees draftee who reminded Lyon of early 2000s superstar

Melbourne’s Xavier Lindsay certainly impressed Demons great Garry Lyon in his AFL debut in Sunday’s tight loss to GWS.

The pick 11 from last year’s draft was everywhere on the outside with 22 disposals, six tackles and five inside 50s in what was an impressive start to his AFL journey.

Lindsay’s movement and composure even reminded Lyon of a modern great who won three premierships and made four All-Australian teams in Nigel Lappin.

“Xavier Lindsay reminded me of a three-time premiership player in the 2000s,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.

“God, he reminds me of this star and Hall of Famer … that’s Nigel Lappin.

“It’s his balance, his composure and his ability to cruise around off half-back.

“He might remind you of someone else, but for me, it’s Lappin.”

Lindsay was one of five Demons debutants at the MCG on Sunday afternoon and after coming within three points of the Giants, Lyon can’t see why Melbourne would drop any of Jack Henderson, Matthew Jefferson, Harvey Langford and Lindsay for Round 2.

He also thinks that Aidan Johnson would have kept his place in the side if not for a one-week suspension.

“I think they will (stick with them),” Lyon added.

“Johnson the backup ruckman has been suspended for a week. But I think they’ll stick with this group.”

Lyon’s co-host Tim Watson was also impressed with Melbourne’s opening performance despite the defeat, particularly the game of Christian Petracca who had 27 disposals and two goals in his first game since last June, all while dealing with GWS tagger Toby Bedford.

“Petracca was fantastic too,” Watson said.

“Bedford was tagging him, but at one stoppage he left him in his wake and he snapped a goal.

“It was all on work rate and effort. If this tag happened to a younger Petracca, I don’t think he’d be thinking about outrunning a Bedford, but he just took off like a hare.

“He broke the tag. He was fantastic after Bedford did a fantastic job the week before on Nick Daicos.

“For him to perform like that with the pressure that was being applied was fantastic.”

Melbourne will try and pick up their first win of the season when they face North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.