Eade may alert AFL to Lynch treatment
RODNEY Eade will consider seeking clarification from the AFL’s umpiring department in a bid to protect prized key forward Tom Lynch from any illegal attention against Brisbane Lions defenders.
Brisbane’s Harris Andrews tried to rough up Lynch in their pre-season game without consequence in what Eade likened to “world championship wrestling”.
But with premiership points now on the line, Eade is likely to phone AFL headquarters to ensure the Gold Coast’s cocaptain and best and fairest winner gets a fair shake.
It is an uncommon act from Eade, who wants to be clear about the rules going into the new season.
“I may think about it,” Eade said of Lynch.
“In a couple of games there was some really blatant areas that we thought we may need to get some clarification on but I didn’t do it,” Eade said.
“Unless it’s a real clarification issue I don’t think there is any sense whingeing about what happens. They make mistakes and I think they do a good job, to be honest.
“We make mistakes, players make mistakes, it’s not about being picky. There might be a phone call about clarification.”
Former Brisbane midfielder Pearce Hanley will go up against his old team for the first time in a QClash, a game that has historically brought an increased level of physicality.
But Eade said Hanley was unlikely to garner undue attention and early indications are the Irishman is not getting overawed by the occasion.
“The more and more I get to know Pearce and what I hear is that he was a very popular person there so I don’t think there is going to be undue spice,” Eade said.
“He is a popular figure, he is a humble sort of guy and just goes about his job.
“Now they may target him but I wouldn’t have thought they would.
“He is comfortable and very respectful of Brisbane and the opportunity they gave him.
“He has got a lot of good friends there but I think he has mentioned he is very keen to play so he is looking forward to it. He seems quite calm.
“Having coached a lot of players that play against their old team, most of them get anxious in some way and sometimes that boils over to overanxiousness and affects their performance.
“I don’t think that’s in his mindset.”
“I may think about it. In a couple of games there was some really blatant areas.” RODNEY EADE