Adelaide Crow Tom Lynch searching for a long-term deal at West Lakes

The next eight weeks will determine Tom Lynch’s bargaining power and pursuit of a long-term West Lakes deal with Adelaide conscious of avoiding a Dad’s army attack.

Tom Lynch of the Crows handballs during the community series match between the Adelaide Crows and the Fremantle Dockers at Strathalbyn Oval.

The next eight weeks will determine Tom Lynch’s bargaining power and pursuit of a long-term West Lakes deal with Adelaide conscious of avoiding a Dad’s army attack.

Lynch, 27, deserves extended tenure as much as any Crow but the sticking point surrounds the final year of a deal that should cement the elite linkman at West Lakes until at least 2021.

Taylor Walker and Josh Jenkins enjoy Crows deals until 2021 while Mitch McGovern and Eddie Betts will be at West Lakes until 2020.

Lynch must convince Adelaide’s list hierarchy to make another enduring deal in an ageing forward line. Adelaide won’t want Walker, Jenkins and Lynch exiting or fading en masse.

Victorian clubs are eyeing off-contract Lynch who is universally respected as a premium half forward and leader.

There is speculation Adelaide’s offer to Lynch is below a dozen players at the club which is a cause of consternation. Talk that Lynch would be prepared to leave at season’s end is premature given negotiations remain a third completed.

Lynch completed 60 per cent of Adelaide’s pre-season workload and was struck down by illness and a side strain this season. The Crows can argue Lynch must recapture his form and fitness by the half way mark of the season to provide Adelaide protection in committing to the 107-game veteran.

However, Lynch is a class act who feels he has little left to prove at entering a sixth year with the Crows. Suitable terms in what would be the third year of Lynch’s next deal are central to his security and decision.

Lynch, who has booted 30 or more goals in four of five seasons at West Lakes, displaced Darcy Fogarty against St Kilda on Saturday at Etihad Stadium but the boom rookie is viewed as a future superstar.

Eewarding Lynch’s contribution is complicated as recent outlays for Jenkins, captain Walker, rising force McGovern, Brad Crouch, Rory Laird and ongoing negotiations with dual club champion Rory Sloane will chew up Adelaide’s salary cap.

Lynch is a frightful match up given his 193cm height, pace and endurance working as the conduit between Adelaide’s defence and its potent attacking set-up. St Kilda gave Adelaide a gift in 2012 with its No.12 draft pick and Adelaide won’t want to cut rivals a break.