Richmond back Tom Lynch after backlash over his off-the-ball strike of Gold Coast’s Sam Collins
Tom Lynch has copped a fair amount of backlash for recent on-field incidents that have drawn attention from the MRO and rival Mitch Robinson who sledged him publicly, but the Tigers are standing by their man.
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Richmond captain Trent Cotchin says the Tigers will back Tom Lynch “to the hilt”, describing the backlash over his actions against the Gold Coast Suns as a “storm in a teacup”.
While acknowledging Lynch had a “strike of aggression” in his game, Cotchin said the key forward was just doing his best to counter the close attention he received each week.
Lynch has come under fire for his “cheap shots” against Gold Coast, which saw him slapped with a fine from the MRO for striking Suns players Sam Collins and Jarrod Witts.
Cotchin said as a big forward, Lynch sometimes needed to “fight the battle”.
“I know that Mitch Robinson has come out and made a remark about something,” Cotchin said on AFL 360.
“To be frank I think Lynchy first and foremost is an incredible human being and we love him very much at Tigerland and he is one of those guys that once he crosses the line, he has got a bit of white line fever.
“Clearly he knows he needs to play within the rules, but he has also got a strike of aggression that is in him and – as a big bloke that is getting hung onto each week and (who) gets a lot of attention – sometimes you need to fight the battle.
“He will be the first to say that he doesn’t condone any actions that are outside of what is expected of any human being, but he is also trying to do his best and make the most of getting close attention.”
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Cotchin refuted suggestions the Tigers were being overly aggressive as a collective after a spate of fines since the season resumption.
But he said the team needed to do more to support Lynch.
“We’ll support Lynchy to the hilt and he probably needs some support from his teammates rather than having to do it all himself, obviously within the rules,” Cotchin said.
“I think it’s a little bit of a storm in a teacup. We play footy, we’re grown men, you obviously come to battles and it’s a bit of a fierce one anyway.”
An extra level of spice has been added to the next Lions-Tigers showdown after footage emerged of Brisbane firebrand Mitch Robinson taking aim at Richmond forward Tom Lynch earlier this week.
During a recent online gaming session, Robinson fired back at comments that Lynch was the “greatest of all time” and brought into question the premiership winner’s football ability.
The AFL community has been left divided over the sledges, with former Hawthorn premiership great Campbell Brown left believing the comments will only add fuel to Richmond’s fire.
It comes after Lynch was fined $2000 for striking Gold Coast Suns players Sam Collins and Jarrod Witts during the Tigers win on Monday night.
Lynch was also slapped with a fine in Round 10 after shoving Lions star Alex Witherden’s head into the ground.
The Tigers forward has copped criticism this season for his “cheap shots” and Robinson did not hold his feelings back.
“He went to a good team to get success, that’s what he did,” Robinson responded to comments during a live gaming session on Twitch two weeks ago.
“He went to a premiership team and thinks he’s that good.
“He just does my head in. He’s a w***er.”
The Lions have been made aware of his comments and are planning to speak to their star midfielder, however no sanction is set to be imposed.
Brown said the comments could come back to bite the Lions come finals time.
“These comments will dial up the pressure on a Lions side that hasn’t been able to handle it recently against the Tigers, an outfit that thrives under pressure,” Brown wrote for 7Sport.
“You simply don’t need to be giving Richmond of all teams any added motivation come finals time.
“They are a mature, experienced side and they’ve historically built throughout the season to peak and play their best football with the premiership up for grabs. And now they have been given just a little bit more incentive.”
Brown said taking aim at Lynch was not a fair sledge.
“There are some players you simply don’t want to poke and he (Lynch) is definitely one of them,” Brown wrote.
“He was deprived of finals football for the first eight years of his AFL career and is hellbent on making up for lost time.
“You only need to look at his performances in the finals last year to know he loves the big stage and thrives in the finals cauldron.
“It was never more evident than in his match-winning, five-goal performance against Geelong in the preliminary final.
“Without Lynch’s performance, the Tigers don’t even make the grand final last year let alone win the flag. For Robinson to try and lessen his premiership is just not fair.”
Lynch escaped sanction for his stomach whack on Sun Sam Collins, but has been warned that “someone’s going to get him” if he doesn’t “stop trying to be something you’re not”.
Lynch is free to play in Saturday’s Dreamtime clash against Essendon in Darwin after match review officer Michael Christian classified the open-handed hit as being intentional conduct with low impact and body contact and worthy of a $1000 fine.
He was also fined another $1000 for another strike on Suns skipper Jarrod Witts, less than a fortnight after he was fined for misconduct for shoving Lions opponent Harris Andrews’ head into the turf.
After the three separate charges within weeks, the premiership forward could be referred directly to the tribunal should he transgress again.
Former Melbourne key forward David Schwarz — who kicked 244 goals in his 173 games as a Demon — said Lynch was on track to “win goose of the year the way he’s going on”.
“I think what’s happened to Tom is he’s been told by someone at the Richmond footy club … ‘Tom, I want you to go out and be a bit more aggressive, because I reckon you’re not showing enough bite’,” Schwarz said on 3AW.
“I’d grab him by the throat if he was my opponent and just let it be known.
“Young Collins clearly didn’t enjoy it, clearly didn’t like it. But (Lynch) has been doing this for three or four weeks.”
Schwarz said he considered the actions from Lynch to be “unnecessary”.
“He’s a good mark, he’s a good kick, he knows how to play the game, but he’s not tough,” he said.
“He’s not a Barry Hall, he’s not a Plugger Lockett or a Derm (Brereton) who’s actually going to go the biffo.
“If he keeps continuing to do it, someone’s going to get him. Someone will line him up and we’re going to go ‘Guess what Tom? You probably deserved it.’
“Stop being a knucklehead, play the game and stop trying to be something you’re not.”
Lynch’s Tigers teammate Kane Lambert said on Tuesday that the team had been encouraged by coach Damien Hardwick “to play assertive and aggressive football”.
🤯 | Hang on, it wasn't Tom Lynch who floored Sam Collins last night?: https://t.co/erY1fjKyvj @NickSmart85 pic.twitter.com/cZwzAQsdZ2
— Herald Sun Sport (@heraldsunsport) August 17, 2020
“Sometimes that’s going to push the boundaries,” he said on SEN.
“We don’t want to be reckless, but as a smaller type player, playing around a key (forward) like Tom Lynch I’ve got a lot of confidence. He always looks out for us.
“I really love playing with Tommy, he’s been great for the football club.”
Earlier, fellow Tiger Jake Aarts was revealed as the player that felled Gold Coast defender Collins, not premiership forward Lynch, in a strange twist from Monday night’s controversial off-the-ball incident.
Lynch was in hot water after clashing with Collins behind play in Richmond’s win over Gold Coast at the Gabba.
Lynch struck Suns’ defender Collins with a swinging arm to the ribs as the Tigers’ forward led for a mark late in the last quarter.
Collins crumpled to the turf and remonstrated with Lynch after he slotted the goal from a 40m set shot, helping propel Richmond to a 21-point win.
But fresh behind the goals footage has emerged on Tuesday that shows Aarts made secondary contact with Collins as Lynch led for a mark.
The footage shows that was the contact that felled Collins, not the initial contact from Lynch.
Fans lit up social media after Lynch tried to spook Collins as the pair went toe-to-toe in the goalsquare following the incident. And the Suns defender was still fuming after the game, with cameras capturing him punching a pylon in the Gold Coast rooms.
Brisbane star Mitch Robinson weighed in on Twitter with a reference to an incident three weeks ago when Lynch pushed Alex Witherden’s head into the ground.
Witherden was lying on the ground when Lynch rammed his head from behind.
The Richmond goal kicker was fined $500 for misconduct and faces another fine on Tuesday for the gut-punch on Collins.
The Tigers have copped 14 fines — the majority for striking — since footy’s resumption in Round 2, but vice-captain Jack Riewoldt said there had not been a conscious shift from the reigning premier to change its attack.
“I don’t know why … we just seem to be just treading over that line at the moment,” he said on Fox Footy.
“We don’t want to be going over the line — we want to play within the rules, but sometimes you get it wrong.”
Tiger Kane Lambert said Lynch played on the edge.
“Dimma wants us to play assertive and aggressive football, sometimes that’s going to push the boundaries,” teammate Kane Lambert said on SEN radio on Tuesday.
Why would he, there’s no ground to push it into.
— Mitch Robinson (@MitchRobinson05) August 17, 2020
Loved the intensity of Sam Collins. #AFLTigersSuns
— Jude Bolton (@Jude_Bolton) August 17, 2020
“We don’t want to be reckless, but as a smaller type player, playing around a key (forward) like Tom Lynch I’ve got a lot of confidence. He always looks out for us.
“I really love playing with Tommy, he’s been great for the football club.”
Hardwick has threatened his players with the nappy changing duties of Trent Cotchin’s baby Parker for undisciplined acts.
And Lambert joked Lynch might need to get prepared.
“There’s quite a few of us who’ve had to change a nappy over the past few weeks and those
nappies really, really smell, mate … maybe Tommy might need a little bit of practice.”
The AFL is trying to stamp out these sorts of striking incidents with fines and on-the-spot free kicks.
Lynch and Collins were seen pushing and shoving minutes later but shook hands after the match.
Lynch said there wasn’t much in the incident.
“It was just an open hand and pushed off. That was it,” Lynch said on ABC.
“I’m not too sure, he (Collins) was a bit angry about that.
“It was just an open hand to the chest, which as key forwards, is what you want to do.”
Tom Lynch not making a great name for himself of late. Too many cheap shots. Weak and embarrassing. #AFLTigersSuns
— James Mottershead (@mottersjames) August 17, 2020
Tom Lynch disgusting tactics #AFLTigersSuns gotta wipe that out of the game 😤
— Rachelle Edwards (@rachelle94_ed) August 17, 2020
Fox Footy commentator and Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall said Collins was unhappy with the blow.
“Lynch just throws the swinging arm which sucks the gas out of him (Collins),” Dunstall said.
“Maybe he (Collins) made a little more out of it after he realised he couldn’t go with Lynch (on the lead).
“He needs to be careful. Have a look at the aftermath. He is starting to get angry (about it) Sam Collins.”
Hawthorn four-time premiership great Jordan Lewis said it was not a good look.
“It isn’t what you want to see though, they (AFL) are trying to get rid of that punch to the stomach,” Lewis said.
Collins was later seen punching a pylon in the changerooms after the match.