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Running It Straight: 6pm Tuesdays“Get serious”: Lyon takes aim at AFL season launch
SEN • March 3rd, 2026 11:42 am
Garry Lyon has urged the AFL to “get serious” when promoting the game in the northern states.
Lyon’s epiphany came as he cast his eyes to the AFL season launch ahead of Opening Round which kicks off at the SCG on Thursday night.
While Carlton and Hawthorn sent injured players Nick Haynes and Will Day, which Lyon can understand, he wanted to see some stars from both Sydney and GWS given there are two standalone games in Sydney.
Lyon says no disrespect to emerging Swan Logan McDonald and his Giants counterpart Aaron Cadman, but if the game wants to be taken seriously up north, then produce a bit more sparkle.
“This occurred to me when I was watching the season launch,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.
“If the AFL season launch is the ‘big launch’ on the steps of Sydney Town Hall in a market you’ve got an Opening Round designed to promote footy in the northern states, then it is incumbent upon you to get the big names to the opening.
“I understand Nick Haynes and Will Day, injured players from Melbourne who have to fly up.
“If you’re the Sydney Swans or the GWS Giants - with all due respect to Aaron Cadman and Logan McDonald - but you’re promoting the game with a season launch next to the CEO (Andrew Dillon) in one of the most important markets in football.
“Toby Greene and Isaac Heeney should be the two. Or Charlie Curnow. If you’re getting $1.2-$1.3 million then you dust of half an hour and you get along to the season launch to promote the game.
“People look at Logan McDonald, with due respect, and say ‘who is that bloke?’. And Aaron Cadman is a nice talent.
“But get the most recognisable faces standing next to the CEO of the AFL in the market where you need visibility.
“Don’t be going for anything other than the number one dogs, the biggest dogs in the game - and that’s Heeney or Curnow and Greene standing alongside.
“Then the northern markets will take AFL football seriously.
“C’mon, let’s get serious about the game for god’s sake, man.”
The Swans host the Blues in the first serious fixture of 2026 from 7:30pm AEDT with the Giants playing host to the Hawks at ENGIE Stadium on Saturday evening form 4:15pm AEDT.
