AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan says Tom Lynch won’t be offered AFL ambassador money until he signs new deal

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan says the league will not offer Gold Coast star Tom Lynch any lucrative ambassador role until he decides to stay at Gold Coast or pursue his free agency rights, but has guaranteed the club’s future.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan is prepared to personally guarantee the long-term viability of the Gold Coast Suns to the game’s hottest free agent Tom Lynch.

McLachlan confirmed on Wednesday he was willing to meet with Lynch — if the Suns’ co-captain asked — but won’t offer the 25-year-old a lucrative AFL ambassadorial role until he decides his future.

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A swag of AFL clubs, including Richmond, North Melbourne, Hawthorn and Collingwood, have signalled their intentions to chase the power forward, while the Suns are set to offer him more than $10 millions across seven seasons to entice him to stay.

Lynch has indicated he won’t make a decision on his future until later in the season, with an eye on how the Suns are faring under first-year coach Stuart Dew.

But McLachlan’s door is open if Lynch wants any assurances, with the AFL chief saying the Suns were virtually “a new club” heading in the right direction on and off the field.

“I would tell him what I would say publicly, that Gold Coast should take huge confidence in our support,” McLachlan said.

Tom Lynch is 2018’s hottest free agent. Picture: Michael Klein

“They have made some very tough decisions in the last 12 months — there is a new CEO, new coach, new head of football, new head of commercial (operations), new list manager and they are the key pillars of the club.

“It is a new club. They have got one of the best facilities in the country, (and) their own stadium.

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“It’s now up to the footy department and the players because they have the tools there now, I feel confident and they looked bloody good the other day (winning a JLT match against Geelong).”

McLachlan stressed the AFL would not enter into any discussions with Lynch about a much-mooted league ambassador’s role until after he had signed a new contract.

“He has to make a decision based on the merits of staying at the Gold Coast Football Club,” he said. “The highest-paid ambassadors ... three of the top four, I think — (are) with Melbourne clubs.

Lynch wants to see where the Suns are headed under new coach Stuart Dew before considering a new contract. Picture: Alix Sweeney

“That will have no bearing on whether Tom Lynch re-signs or not.”

McLachlan said the “romantic” in him hopes Lynch, who comes from Sorrento, decides to stay on the Gold Coast.

“I have got no issue with players moving clubs because everyone’s personal circumstances are different,” he said.

“That is a decision for Tom but the romantic in me wants every player to stay at the one club for the whole journey.”

But if Lynch does leave, the AFL chief is confident the Suns will deal with the fallout. “Clearly clubs want to keep big-name players but if a guy decides to go they do their best for a trade and at the draft, and things seem to work out,” he said.

“I just think every time people say, ‘This guy is the most important player for our footy club’ it undermines all the rest of the playing group and culture.

Tom Lynch and Steven May will co-captain the Suns again in 2018. Picture: Mike Batterham

“I think about three of the best five players of the last five years: (Gary) Ablett left Geelong and they won the flag the next year, (Lance) Franklin left Hawthorn and they won the flag the next year, and (Patrick) Dangerfield left Adelaide and they played in a Grand Final two years after that.”

In a wideranging briefing, the AFL also revealed it has no intention of making public players’ salaries, with McLachlan and football operations manager Steven Hocking firm in their opposition.

McLachlan also said a strong focus of the coming year would be on clubs paying down their “bad” debt, with the overall figure at around $50 million. He hopes it can be reduced by another $10m by the end of the season.

He said the debt of three clubs were a concern — Brisbane (more than $17m), St Kilda (more than $10m) and Port Adelaide (less than $10m).

The AFL is confident it can break its attendance record of 6,732,601 set last year and is aiming to push towards one million memberships around the country.