Nathan Jones has been the heart and soul of Melbourne midfield through their recent ups and downs as a football club and club legend Garry Lyon believes Jones should consider making the move into the forward line to help prolong his career. 

After winning three consecutive best and fairest from 2012-2014, Jones has suffered through a number of niggling injuries and with Melbourne's up and coming list only gaining more experience by the day, Lyon believes the time is right for Jones to start making the transition. 

“I would expect him to play, we talk about Petracca wanting to go into the middle, you know that Oliver can, he will go forward perhaps for longer periods in time, and maybe it will help preserve his body,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.

“He could even go back as well.”

It was revealed that Jones has suffered through back spasms and a calf injury through the preseason while his co-captain Jack Viney is also battling to be fit for their season opener as he continues to recover from stress fractures in his foot.