Anthony Lynch: Premiership player becomes a premiership coach

St Kevin’s premiership players have cheered their star coach after achieving an incredible feat in Sunday’s VAFA grand final.

Victorious St Kevin’s players have applauded club legend Anthony Lynch after he coached the seniors to an A-Grade premiership on Sunday, three seasons after captaining the side to its first A-Grade flag.

Lynch won three premierships as captain of the Saints seniors, including a B-Grade flag in 2015 followed by back-to-back A-Grade flags in 2017 and 2018.

The Saints 287 gamer retired in 2019 after 13 seasons of senior football at the Saints, which included two best and fairests, several years as skipper and regular appearances in the VAFA representative team, including the Big V captaincy.

St Kevin's coach Anthony Lynch. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Lynch took up the senior coaching role this season where he steered the team to its third A-Grade flag in four seasons.

Saints skipper Sam Critchley praised Lynch for his contribution as coach following Sunday’s 21-point grand final win over Old Brighton.

“I think a lot of it comes back to the way that Plugger leads the boys and the culture he expects that we adhere to,” Critchley said.

St Kevin's four-time premiership winners of 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022, Cal Matheson, Anthony Lynch, William Coates and Conor Ross.

Critchley continued, praising the young group coming through under the guidance and support of Lynch.

“We had a fair list change at the end of last season, a few people went away and a few people went to other clubs,” he said.

“We couldn’t speak higher of the young boys coming through like Luke Winter, Jack Darmody, I could go on.

“Angus Hart, he didn’t play today but the expectations and the standards that these guys are bringing up with them really sets the standards for the rest of us.

“I can see success in this team for a long time to come.

“Premierships are hard to win but these guys understand what it takes to win now.”

The club’s senior flag on Sunday marked the first time in VAFA history a club has won a Premier Men’s and Women’s flag in the same season.

St Kevins OB players celebrate their victory. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Lynch was appointed as an VFL assistant coach at Essendon and VAFA state coach in 2020.

Tom Jok, who was best on ground in the grand final complimented Lynch for his ability to keep the group close.

“It’s the same group really with just a few younger like injected into it,” Jok said.

“But at the same time, to have a coach like Plugger Lynch who has also been apart of that run with myself and other players in the group, he’s just someone who has brought everyone together.

“In moments like finals, the closest team always tends to win it somehow and I guess we just seem to be a close knit group and the will to win is attributed to how we keep the group together.”

Anthony Lynch of St Kevin's snaps a goal during VAFA Premier Grand Final against University Blues in 2019. Picture: Hamish Blair

Lynch, a life member of Saints said he got a sense of pride for the players after winning the flag as a coach.

“There is no doubt [winning the premiership as] the player is a little bit more selfish, when you’re playing the exhilaration is very much about the work you have put in,” Lynch said.

“But [winning the premiership] as a coach, everything is just about the players, I’m so proud of them.

“We know how difficult they are to win so all the excitement comes from the playing group and seeing them enjoy it for sure.”