Superstar Tom remains a Gold Coast linchpin, says Dew

NEW Suns coach Stuart Dew says Tom Lynch is a required player and backs himself to make a good impact on the Gold Coast co-captain that could determine if he stays at the club.

Lynch has told Suns insid- ers he has reservations about extending his contract beyond 2018 if the club shows no obvious improvement.

It comes after he watched former teammates Dion Prestia and Josh Caddy win a flag with Richmond this season while Zac Smith has also featured in finals football multiple times with Geelong.

Pay packets won’t sway the 24-year-old key forward – he will get big money wherever he plays – but the lure of success could ultimately draw him to return to Victoria.

If Lynch left the Coast just one year into Dew’s tenure it would be a disaster from which the Suns may not recover.

Dew said Lynch’s presence was a must for the Gold Coast.

“He is our joint captain with Steven May so he is certainly a required player,” Dew said.

“He certainly has given me a lot of headaches in the past watching as an opposition coach.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do on the same team, it will be a nice change.

“I back myself to make a good impact.

“I love watching Tom Lynch play. I’ve admired him from afar so I’d love that opportunity work with him.”

Dew briefly touched base with Lynch – on leave in Munich, Germany – following his appointment on Wednesday night and said that he would contact him as soon as he arrived home in Australia.

Gold Coast already began discussing a potential trade for Gary Ablett with Geelong before Dew arrived and the new coach said he was happy to wait until Ablett returned from the Maldives to speak to him while being guided by Suns list manager Scott Clayton.