Leppa thrilled if Lynch a Tiger

RICHMOND forwards coach Justin Leppitsch would gladly accommodate Gold Coast wantaway Tom Lynch in his premiership-winning attacking set-up next season.

But the one-time Brisbane Lions mentor, and three-time premiership player at the club, feels for Stuart Dew, who is experiencing a baptism by fire in his first year at the helm of the floundering Suns.

Leppitsch likens the situation to his own when he took charge of the Lions in 2013 — just as future stars such as Elliot Yeo, Sam Docherty and Jared Polec were departing.

Dew arrived on the Gold Coast as Gary Ablett was departing for Geelong, 12 months after Jaeger O’Meara and Dion Prestia had left.

Lynch will join a new club during the free agency and trade period in October, with the defending premier Richmond jostling with Collingwood and Hawthorn for the 199cm key forward’s services.

Alongside head coach Damien Hardwick, Leppitsch has masterminded a relatively small forward structure that is the envy of rivals clubs — one built on speed.

“If I had to coach him, I’m not going to complain, that’s for sure,” Leppitsch said. “I think [Tigers fullback] Alex [Rance] was the only one who said it would be upsetting the apple cart. I don’t think anyone else sees it like that.

“I think he would only help us, to be honest. Even when you’re near the top of the ladder you’ve got to keep evolving. You can’t keep rolling out the same team each year and expect the same result — it just doesn’t work that way.

“You’ve got to keep reinvigorating the team.”

Lynch, 25, has played 131 games and kicked 254 goals. An All Australian jumper in 2016, when he booted 66 goals, highlighted his capabilities.

The Suns have had to cope without him for the majority of the 2018 season, because of his knee injury.