Lynch departure turns ugly

Suns meeting descends into chaos

GOLD Coast players traded barbs in an ugly player-only meeting where co-captain Tom Lynch announced his decision to quit the club and return to Melbourne.

Lynch was attacked for his lack of loyalty by several younger players before older teammates, including foundation Sun David Swallow, came to his defence.

Details of Lynch’s messy exit emerged yesterday after Suns boss Mark Evans took aim at Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley for his role in the free-agency fiasco.

Lynch met the Suns’ extended leadership group on Thursday night before addressing the entire playing list. Touk Miller made his feelings known about Lynch’s departure at the first gathering, which did not impress some of his older teammates.

They were angered by the use of strong language that questioned Lynch’s character.

Lynch told Miller he had served eight years and never breached a contract.

Brayden Fiorini, Lachie Weller and Jack Bowes were invited to join the leadership meeting and also gave strong feedback to Lynch.

Evans said the Suns stood by their decision to strip Lynch of the co-captaincy and ban him from the football department.

Asked if Buckley’s admission about a recent secret meeting with Lynch had brought matters to a head, Evans said: “The last two weeks haven’t been terrific for the code, in terms of this issue.

“It’s difficult to be false when you’re asked a question, but it’s also difficult sometimes to completely blurt out everything.

“And I think we would be in a different spot if that hadn’t happened.

“But one way or another we had pressed Tom pretty hard over the last couple of months for an answer and I can’t back away from that because it feels like it’s the right thing for the Gold Coast Suns to get its ship into order. But I’m not sure you can have your cake and eat it too.”

Buckley and Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew spoke on Thursday night just hours after Lynch, 25, was shown the door.

“He was just ringing more out of courtesy and I think he went on radio the next day to say that if he had his time again he probably wouldn’t have put it on the radar,” Dew said.

“I think he was aware that put it out in the public eye and did change the look of it.”

Magpies list boss Ned Guy has also spoken to Suns counterpart Craig Cameron to explain his visit to Lynch’s Blairgowrie family home on Monday. Despite Collingwood’s fierce pursuit of Lynch, Brownlow medallist Brad Hardie yesterday said he believed the Pies had fallen behind Richmond in the race for the star forward.

“My snouts around the place suggest that Collingwood feel as though they are up against it because of Richmond’s offer,” Hardie told Macquarie Sports Radio.

“They’ve got a feeling that he’s been offered $7 million over seven years.”

The Suns yesterday confirmed there were strong words exchanged in Thursday’s meeting but said the entire leadership group were united on the decision to strip Lynch of the captaincy.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson yesterday confirmed the Hawks were still keen on speaking to Lynch.

“I think there’s a fair few clubs who would be interested in Tom’s services and we’re certainly one of those,” Clarkson said.

“[But] our first intention is to respect the fact that he’s a Gold Coast player.”