LYNCH CHASE

AFL rivals to start rich pursuit of Gold Coast co-captain

GOLD Coast spearhead Tom Lynch is poised to become the most sought-after player in the game next season with Victorian clubs ramping up the chase for his signature.

News Corp can reveal clubs are registering their interest in the Suns’ co-captain in a bid to poach the superstar goalkicker under free agency next season.

Lynch, 24, is contracted until the end of 2018, but will likely wait to assess the direction of the club over the first half of next season before considering his future.

It means the Suns are set to face a nervous wait to retain their most important asset.

Labelled the No.1 player in the game by Brisbane champion Jonathan Brown and Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton, Lynch could command the biggest offer in the game’s history to return home to Victoria next year.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and Richmond coach Damien Hardwick have both said their clubs need to bolster their key position stocks.

Sources say Lynch is worth in excess of $1.5 million a year on the open market, incorporating a 20 per cent boost to the AFL’s salary cap this year.

The 199cm strong-marking forward, from Sorrento, has averaged 15 disposals, six marks and 2.3 goals a game this year. He is eighth in the Coleman Medal with 44 goals.

Brereton in February said Lynch was an “extraordinary” player. “(Lynch) is the best player in the comp,” he said.

“If you gave me an open chequebook and said start a club, who do you want to buy first? Tom Lynch is my number one target. Bar none … The best player at your club to build around, it is Tom Lynch.”

A long-term deal could trump the mega offers which snared Sydney’s Lance Franklin (nine years) and Western Bulldogs’ premiership big man Tom Boyd (six years).

Lynch has not played finals in his seven-year career and remains determined to help resurrect the besieged club next season alongside resigned co-captain Steven May.

But it’s understood another poor year and more upheaval could leave Lynch vulnerable.

Gold Coast boss Mark Evans is in the final stages of an exhaustive review tipped to trigger sweeping changes.