Suns’ gloomy Lynch outlook

AFL using Hawthorn, GOLD Coast coach Stuart Dew has given his strongest indication yet that co-captain Tom Lynch may have played his last game for the struggling AFL club.

The off-contract forward had successful surgery on his troublesome knee in Melbourne on Tuesday and will miss the remainder of the Suns’ season.

Dew has “parked” discussions about his future for now.

The 25-year-old free agent has been strongly linked with a move home to Victoria, with

plans to introduce starting positions in a bid to ease congestion and “take the Richmond, Collingwood and Hawthorn all understood to be keen on his services.

“We’re trying to snap a losing streak and Tom can’t help with that,” Dew said yesterday.

“History suggests that if you don’t know (if a player is staying) in Round 18 and he’s our captain, it’s not looking great.

“But that’s the reality of AFL footy.”

Lynch is expected to fetch well in excess of $1 million a season with his next deal, and the Suns’ 11-game losing streak and 3-13 record are hardly helping the club’s retention cause.

Suns chairman Tony Cochrane said it was “obvious” game into the future”. But Buckley couldn’t be more against the idea.

“I don’t like it. I think it will be a blight on the game,” he said.

“I think if we go to zones, we’re going to be waiting for players to get back into zones.

“How often do you want to do that?”

Geelong superstar Patrick the club wanted a decision sooner rather than later from Lynch.

“We’re hopeful that straight after his operation is over that Tom gives us a clear indication of his intent,” he said yesterday.

“We’ve been patient, will continue to be patient, and we’re planning for either (scenario), but the sooner we know where we stand the better off we all are.”

The Suns travel to Sydney this weekend to play the Swans and Dew indicated changes would be made after a host of top-line players returned via the NEAFL last weekend. Dangerfield hit back at Buckley’s comments. He is in favour of starting points to not only ease congestion but to improve the look of the game for fans.

“I think we need to give it a chance to work,” he said.

“The aesthetic of footy isn’t as good as it once was and it needs help to improve. I think there’s the potential for starting positions to help that.”

Veteran defender Pearce Hanley was one of those, however Dew said his lack of game time this season meant he was likely to spend at least another week in the reserves.

Dew said the Brisbane Lions’ three-game winning streak showed how hard it was to turn a struggling club’s fortunes.

“It shows there’s no quick fixes in footy,” he said. “He’s (Lions coach Chris Fagan) been going 18 months to get those three wins in a row.”

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