HIGH TIDE
Coast to play hardball over Lynch contract saga
GOLD Coast have decided to flex their muscles, telling captain Tom Lynch they are prepared to be the first club to use free-agency laws to block a player’s planned defection.
The Suns believe none of Lynch’s suitors can offer him more than he is now earning at the Gold Coast, which would mean they could match the offer under free-agency rules and pay him less than they had budgeted to keep him.
They feel there is little chance Lynch would nominate for the draft, which would leave them receiving nothing in return, because he does not wish to play for Carlton.
CEO Mark Evans warned Lynch over dinner recently that if he opted to leave he should not assume he would walk to the club of his choice.
No club has ever matched an offer since free-agency was introduced but the club’s football subcommittee has decided it is a live option. The football subcommittee is chaired by long-time board member Paul Scurrah and also includes fellow board member Simon Bennett, Evans, coach Stuart Dew, football manager Jon Haines and list manager Craig Cameron.
That stance was presented to the full board meeting last week.
There are powerbrokers on the board and among the administration who are sick of players walking.
Others support accepting the AFL’s compensation that would come directly after their first pick, which is likely to be picks two and three.
However, the Suns have gone backwards in Dew’s first year in charge and with a host of other big names off contract next year, they need to take a significant step forward next season to avoid a mass exodus.
While David Swallow is set to sign a long-term deal, the future of co-captain Steven May and young guns Jack Martin and Callum Ah
Chee are uncertain.
There are concerns the free-agency compensation comes with no guarantees because a young player joining a battling side may not wish to stay.
The need for established players has pushed a third scenario to the fore where, if Lynch (pictured) is adamant he wants to go, the club seeks to trade him for a player-draft pick combination.
Cameron has been instructed to explore that option.
Dew last week conceded the chances of Lynch deciding to stay at the club were slim and yesterday warned the Suns would decide his fate.
“It is certainly not all on Tom’s terms,’’ he said.
“We have been in constant dialogue with Tom and his manager and when the time is right we will certainly move forward one way or another.
“There is options we have, he’s a restricted free agent, is it matching (the offer), is it he decides to stay?’’