BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 23: Daniel McStay of the Lions celebrates a goal during the round one AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the West Coast Eagles at The Gabba on March 23, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Melbourne great Garry Lyon has declared Daniel McStay "played like Wayne Carey" on the weekend, naming him player of the round.

Lyon praised for the 25-year-old's performance in Brisbane's win over Port Adelaide - which included eight marks, five of which were contested, and a goal.

Speaking on SEN Breakfast, Lyon believes McStay has untapped potential that the emerging Lion doesn't realise.

“He played like Wayne Carey, Daniel McStay,” Lyon told SEN Breakfast.

“This bloke has got, I said this last year after he played a similar game, he is so much better than he thinks he is.

“If he only realised how much talent he’s got Daniel McStay, he could be something very, very special. He was my player of the round.

“These blokes, McStay, Esava Ratugolea, have ability that make you go ‘wow’, then you don’t see them do it again for a long time.”

Former Bombers skipper Tim Watson agreed that the time is now for McStay to start living up to the talent he seems to possess.

“McStay has got to become McGo. He looks like he should be so much better than he us – almost like he’s embarrassed to be better than what he is. Hopefully that unlocked him on the weekend,” Watson said.