AFL boss happy to meet Lynch

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan is prepared to personally guarantee the longterm viability of the Gold Coast Suns to the game’s hottest free agent Tom Lynch.

McLachlan said yesterday he was willing to meet Lynch – if the Suns’ co-captain asked – but won’t offer him a lucrative AFL ambassadorial role until he decides his future.

A swag of AFL clubs, including Richmond, North Melbourne, Hawthorn and Collingwood, have signalled their intentions to chase the power forward, while the Suns are set to offer him more than $10 million across seven seasons to entice him to stay.

Lynch, 25, has indicated he won’t make a decision on his future until later in the season, with an eye on how the Suns are faring under first-year coach Stuart Dew.

But McLachlan’s door is open if Lynch wants any assurances, with the AFL chief saying the Suns were virtually “a new club” heading in the right direction on and off the field.

“I would tell him what I would say publicly, that Gold Coast should take huge confidence in our support,” McLachlan said.