Decision day looms for Tom Lynch who has arrived back on the Gold Coast

VIDEO: TOM Lynch has dramatically returned to the Gold Coast today as he gets ready to make a call on his AFL future.

DECISION day is looming for Tom Lynch who will meet with the Suns to discuss his future today following his arrival back on the Gold Coast.

Lynch flew back from Melbourne on Thursday but remained tight-lipped about his plans for the future as he continues to recover from knee surgery.

FIVE TO SIGN IF LYNCH GOES

“I’m just keen to get back and see the boys and get back into my rehab,” Lynch said when asked if he was close to announcing a decision.

“I’ll go see the physios and the boys which will be good. It will be good to hear what the physios think about how my knee is tracking but I feel really good with it.”

Suns football manager Jon Haines confirmed the club would meet with their co-captain Thursday afternoon in order to seek some clarity about his rehabilitation from knee surgery and where the restricted free agent stands with his future.

“He will come into the club this afternoon and we will catch up with him,” Haines said.

“Firstly to see how he is going from a rehab point of view. He met with the surgeon (Wednesday) and got some good news in that regard. We will move forward from there.”

Lynch the past fortnight mulling over future following knee surgery. He has since met with manager Robbie D’Orazio and potential destination club Collingwood twice in that time frame.”

TOP SUNS WINS

The 25-year-old is being chased heavily by Collingwood, Richmond and Hawthorn and the Magpies have met with Lynch and his manager Robbie D’Orazio twice in the past fortnight.

Gold Coast could have a decision by the end of the day but Haines said the Suns would not press Lynch for an answer until he was ready.

“There is no definitive timeline on it,” Haines said.

“It is more a case of continuing the discussions we have had with Tom and his management and that will happen on an ongoing basis.”

Interest in the key forward’s future has hit fever-pitch as the AFL edges closer to the end of the regular season but despite reports of multiple meetings with suitors, Haines said the Suns continued to act in a professional manner.

“It’s the nature of free agency, players and player managers are going to be engaging in discussions with other clubs,” Haines said.

“That’s the reality of it at the moment. We have been trying to work our way through it this year in a mature and professional manner and we will continue to do that.”

Stuart Dew said the club would consider becoming the first to match a free-agency bid this week in a move that could force Tom Lynch to go to the draft if he still wanted out.

With the likes of Steven May, David Swallow, Jack Martin and Callum Ah Chee all off contract next year, Lynch’s presence on the list could be vital to Gold Coast’s ability to retain their top talent.

“We are looking at what our three to five year list management program is like from a (Total Player Payment) perspective but also from a player profile.

“So while this upcoming draft and trade period is really important and critical to the future of the club, we are also looking ahead to the three-to-five year window and that has been a real focus in our planning this year.”