SUN SETS ON LYNCH
Letting go is the first step to a new dawn at the Gold Coast
TOM Lynch is the talk of the town. Well, towns in Victoria. He’s met with Nathan Buckley and had a weekend in Blairgowrie all while deciding on his future.
Well, where he lives on the Gold Coast, if anyone up there actually cares, they aren’t talking about him. The Suns need to let him go. But it’s just the first in a number of steps the struggling club needs to climb.
It’s been said that the Gold Coast is a Bermuda Triangle for national sporting clubs. Everyone that has tried to play and win there has disappeared.
But if there’s one thing the AFL loves to do is win and the league will not give up making this franchise work.
So how can they do it? It’s up to the club.
Its leaders must approach headquarters and beg for every concession they can come up with.
One issue the Suns have is keeping players who would rather return to a club closer to home.
So the Suns should have first option to draft kids from Queensland.
It sounds basic, but if there’s cracking talent in their own backyard then they should get first dibs. Some Victorian clubs might kick up a stink, but so what. The AFL can make up rules to suit itself.
Another option that is a pretty simple solution would be for more priority picks. But they’ve had that before and the players haven’t stuck around, so this time add in a living allowance. Similar to the Cost of Living Allowance that Sydney had, this should be a Living Retention Allowance or LRA.
It’ll enable players to earn a bit more, but mean they have to stay committed to the place. If they leave because of homesickness then they’ll have to pay back their LRA.
They need to knuckle down as a club. Starting from the top. It’s time to shut up and get the job done.
Chairman Tony Cochrane is great value for media because he has strong opinions and a great manner to express them.
But Tony, just be quiet for now. Don’t bring focus on you or the club. Look at Richmond as example. President Peggy O’Neal is seen, but not really heard.
She’s been at the helm throughout some upheaval from fans, but has remained composed, dignified and steady in her goals.
Cochrane needs help from the AFL, he needs to meet the bosses and ask for the world. So he can’t be slagging previous rules, decisions or incidents that have happened at the Suns.
He needs to go down to Broadbeach and draw a line in the sand.
That was then. This is now. This is what we want. This is what we need. Let’s chat.
As for Lynch, don’t waste your time trying to keep him. Just let him go. If he becomes the highest paid player in the league it’ll be laughable.
He’s not Lance Franklin, Patrick Dangerfield or Gary Ablett in his prime. The Suns don’t need him. Stephen May showed such great leadership last weekend against the Swans in the epic win.
Stewie Dew knows how to coach, he just needs some help with other elements.
I’d love to see the Suns succeed. They can, and I reckon the AFL will make sure they do.