Garry Lyon says that if promising young key position players Jake Lever and Mitch McGovern leave Adelaide at season’s end, it would be a disaster for the Crows.

Lever has reportedly met with the Demons with a view to returning home to Melbourne and is also being heavily chased by Collingwood, Essendon and the Western Bulldogs, while McGovern is believed to be showing an interest in moving back to his native Western Australia to join up his older brother, West Coast’s Jeremy McGovern.

It is now also believed that small forward Charlie Cameron’s name can be added into the mix of players potentially out of the door of the Crows at the end of the year, with the Queenslander apparently seeking a move to the Brisbane Lions according to SEN newsbreaker Sam McClure.

While the exit of these players could allow Adelaide to launch a stronger bid to lure South Australian native Bryce Gibbs away from Carlton after their failed attempt last year, Lyon says losing two young key position players in a single off-season can only spell disaster for the top-of-the-table Crows.

‘It would be a disaster,” the former Melbourne forward said on SEN Breakfast.

“If the Adelaide Crows were to lose Jake Lever and McGovern, you’re talking key posts for ten years.

“That’s a disaster waiting to happen if in fact that does happen.”

Tim Watson agreed with Lyon, believing the loss of Lever, McGovern and Cameron would “significantly” weaken the club.

Adelaide forward Tom Lynch says the speculation on his teammates is to be expected in modern AFL football, believing that the club have no issue with the constant talk surrounding the youngsters so long as it doesn’t impact their form on the field.

The former Saint says that while the going home factor is a strong decider in where players want to play their football, he hopes the Crows’ strong culture is enough to keep them in Adelaide.

“Every year a few guys are out of contract. It’s the world we have to deal with in this day and age. Last year it was Josh Jenkins and the list goes on each year,” he said.

“Those two boys are playing great footy and the contract speculation obviously isn’t hindering their performance. As long as they can go out there and get the job done each week, like Mitch did last weekend, that will all take care of itself at the end of the year hopefully.

“Going home is a real factor but also staying at a great club like we are with a great culture and fantastic people I’m sure is playing a part as well. That was the reason I re-signed a few years ago. We’ve got a fantastic football club with great people.”

Other big names to leave the Crows in the past six years include star Cat Patrick Dangerfield, GWS defender Phil Davis, Hawk Jack Gunston and Kurt Tippett of the Sydney Swans.