Victorian clubs will use Dion Prestia’s final to lure Tom Lynch to Melbourne

DION Prestia’s performance in a final for Richmond in front of 95,000 fans will be exhibit A when Melbourne teams try to lure Tom Lynch away from Gold Coast, writes Alastair Lynch.

RICHMOND’S qualifying final victory over Geelong on Friday would have given Tom Lynch and the Suns plenty to think about.

How must Lynch have felt watching former teammate Dion Prestia advance to a preliminary final in front of 95,000 at the MCG?

Or Josh Caddy. Even Zac Smith, who was in a losing Cats side but has played in a game Lynch could only feel was beyond his reach at the moment.

And how did it make Suns CEO Mark Evans and list manager Scott Clayton feel?

The one true selling point in the early years of the Suns’ existence was the chance to be part of something special with a start-up side that raced to success in a very short time.

How do they attract anyone to the Suns now?

Dion Prestia starred for the Tigers in front of more than 95,000 fans.

The answer is money or opportunity.

They can forget about using money. Every spare cent must be spent on Lynch’s next contract or else someone will blow them out of the water.

Opportunity is also a problem. They don’t need players struggling to get a game. They need genuine stars. And the other sort of opportunity footy provides, such as playing in front of packed houses, can’t be achieved on the Gold Coast.

They will be on the road for the first half of next year also because of the Commonwealth Games — hardly a positive in any pitch.

Prestia mentioned in a post-game radio interview that he made the move back to Melbourne to play in big games. At a club like Richmond he has enjoyed that all year. Friday night, he said, was a whole new level.

The commentators at the end of the interview shared the view it has been a great career move for Prestia. No one could argue. Not even Lynch.

Collingwood would be firmly focused on him and they would be selling exactly what we saw at the ’G — big club, big games. And all the trimmings that come with playing for the Pies.

Plus the chance to come back home to family.

Tom Lynch will be the target of raids from a number of Victorian clubs.

Darcy Moore is ideally suited as a mobile second or third tall forward. Lynch would make him a better player.

Collingwood is building an elite midfield and a player like Lynch could elevate the Pies right back into premiership contention.

He will be offered the biggest contract in AFL history by opposition clubs at the end of next year. Not that it will it will be a money decision as the Suns will also have to break a record to keep him.

But it reinforces how important the coming appointments at the Suns are.

They have to convince Lynch the future is bright. He is a free agent next year and has already stayed when others have left.

Does anyone think Prestia, Caddy, Smith and Charlie Dixon regret their decisions?

You can be sure Collingwood will be using Prestia’s experience as part of their pitch.

The Suns have to find a way to top that.