AFL battlers Gold Coast have agreed to part ways with inside midfielder Jarryd Lyons, who will sign on at Q-Clash rivals Brisbane.
Lyons, 26, was contracted to play on at the Suns in 2019 but instead will be lining up in the Lions midfield.
The club's leading contested ball-winner this season was a surprise delisting on Wednesday, the final day for AFL clubs to lodge their lists ahead of a week-long free agency period.
Reports then emerged the former Adelaide midfielder would be joining his third AFL club.
Suns list manager Craig Cameron said Lyons' delisting came about after the club's busy trade period.
"We added real depth to our midfield during the trade period," Cameron said.
"As a result Jarryd understands that his opportunities would be increasingly limited due to the additions of these players and our desire to play and develop the young midfield talent already on our list.
"The club and Jarryd have had a mature discussion and agree that another club may offer him greater opportunity to play in the midfield in the future."
The Suns attracted Corey Ellis, Anthony Miles (both Richmond) and George Horlin-Smith (Geelong) north in trading this off-season.
But the move is still an odd one, given most clubs look to build midfield depth rather than lose it.
Lyons topped the Suns for clearances in 2018 and was second for effective disposals and inside 50s.
But the Victorian didn't finish inside the top 10 on Gold Coast's best and fairest night.
He will become the first ex-Sun to turn out for Brisbane in a Q-Clash should he feature for the Lions in the fixture.
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