Tough midfielder Jarryd Lyons believes Adelaide’s SANFL lineup will be a ‘scary’ proposition for opposition teams heading into the closing rounds of the season.

Adelaide endured a difficult start to its second SANFL campaign. The Crows went winless through their opening seven games, including tight losses to North Adelaide, South Adelaide and a draw with Glenelg in Round Four.

But the team began to benefit from a number of players returning from injury as the year wore on.

Richard Douglas, Riley Knight, Rory Atkins and Sam Shaw all successfully stepped up from State League level to AFL ranks after injury worries earlier in the year. Andy Otten, Sam Kerridge, and Mitch McGovern are other Crows who have returned in recent weeks following lengthy stints on the sidelines.

Boasting 18 Club-listed players in Sunday’s clash with West Adelaide – the most at State League level in Adelaide’s two seasons in the SANFL – the Crows downed the third-placed Bloods by 63 points.

It marked the first time this season Adelaide has won consecutive games in the SANFL, and was the Crows’ fourth win from their last six outings.

“It’s scary when you see what side we can put out there when we’ve got most of the boys available,” Lyons told afc.com.au.

“We’ve never really had this kind of quality coming through our SANFL team at once, because we’ve always had a few injuries.

“We had some quality players out there today like Matt Crouch, Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Nathan van Berlo and Mitch Grigg just to name a few. A lot of the boys are a bit stiff not to be in the AFL side, but we’re all in good form which is a great sign for the Club.”

Lyons said Adelaide’s recent SANFL form was reward for effort for the players, coaches and staff working to improve behind the scenes week-in, week-out.

“We’re all working hard, so it’s terrific to see the team finally start to put it all together,” he said.

“The last four or five weeks we’ve strung together some good footy and we’ve really played as a team. And now we’re starting to get the results too.”

Lyons was at his dominant best against the Bloods on Sunday. He collected a season-high 35 possessions along with 12 clearances, eight marks and a goal and was rightly named best afield by Crows coaching staff post-match.

But despite consistent performances at SANFL level, Lyons is yet to cement his spot in Adelaide’s senior side. He’s played just six AFL games this year following on from 10 games at the top level in 2014.

The strong 23-year-old, who was drafted as a goalkicking midfielder, said he hopes his versatility can help him become a regular at AFL level in the near future.

“I think that’s key for me,” he said.

“With such a strong midfield at the Club, with guys like Dangerfield, Sloane and Thompson, if I can sneak forward and make an impact it just adds another string to my bow and gives me that flexibility to play in the midfield or forward in the AFL side.”

Lyons kicked four goals in a quarter in Adelaide’s win over North Adelaide in Round 14 and has hit the scoreboard in all but two SANFL games this season.

“I played in that forward/mid role as a junior, so I’ve always had a bit of a nous for the goals I guess,” he said.

“I’ve just to keep putting my hand up. There’s not much more else I can do other than play well and hopefully pick myself eventually.”