Hermit Park Tigers special tribute to chopper crash victim Danniel Lyon

Townsville’s Aussie rules community will pay tribute to former Hermit Park player Danniel Lyon and three other ADF personnel killed in a tragic helicopter crash off Hamilton Island.

Nic Darveniza

@NicDarveniza

2 min read

August 4, 2023 - 5:20PM

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Townsville’s Aussie rules community will pay tribute to former Hermit Park player Danniel Lyon and the three other Australian Defence Force personnel killed in a tragic helicopter crash last week with an on-field ceremony

Captain Lyon was a key member of the Tigers during his two years in Townsville, including playing a major role in the 2017 premiership season.

Former teammate Sam Tonkes, now coaching Curra said the ceremony would honour both Lyon and his crewmates ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Tigers.

“He was a very good mate, of a lot of people,” said Tonkes, who served alongside Lyon and counted him a friend and teammate at both club level and for the Army team.

Australian Army officer Captain Danniel Lyon, 6th Aviation Regiment. Picture: ADF

“We’re going to form a circle on the middle of the ground and take out an Army guernsey and a Hermit Park guernsey and we’ll pay our respect out there.

“He was a very good mate of mine. I served with him in the army myself and he was a very good guy and a very good footballer.

“We have our Army team where we play against Navy and Air Force and he was selected as one of the best players in the army. He was part of the leadership group of our team.

“He was a very respected Army AFL player and a very respected soldier as well.”

Players from both clubs will draw on the emotional energy of the tribute ceremony for the weekend’s game of the round.

Hermit Park and Curra are locked in a duel for a top-two finish and semi-final date with minor premiers Thuringowa.

Hermit Park (36pts) are one win ahead of Curra (32pts) on the ladder and will be forced to rely on a superior scoring percentage to maintain second place with a loss.

Curra is so confident that coach Tonkes did not attend last week’s Tigers clash with University, telling this masthead he already knew all he needed to about his archrival’s team and tactics.

“I couldn’t be fussed,” Tonkes said. “We know how people play and what they can do. Last time we played them we had our strongest team and we know what to do.”

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Tonkes didn’t miss the chance to lob a hand grenade into the camp of opposition coach and old mate Max Tink.

“Obviously they’ve still got a lot to prove with a first-year coach,” Tonkes bantered. “It’s all good beating clubs below them on the ladder by 100 but it’s how you go against the other sides that show who you are as a football club.”

Thuringowa play University.

Originally published as Hermit Park Tigers special tribute to chopper crash victim Danniel Lyon