Why Tom Lynch doesn’t deserve backlash for exploring all available options ahead of free agency

WANTAWAY Gold Coast star Tom Lynch has made headlines for meeting with rival clubs, but he’d be doing himself a disservice if he didn’t, let’s not be precious about it, writes Jon Ralph.

Would Tom Lynch be doing himself a disservice if he did not meet with rival clubs? Picture: Getty Images

WELCOME to the real world.

If Tom Lynch wants to make a decision on his future, how negligent would he be not to talk to rivals before he did so?

Nathan Buckley’s “revelation” on Channel 9 that he had met with Tom Lynch was always a guaranteed talking point.

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Would Tom Lynch be doing himself a disservice if he did not meet with rival clubs? Picture: Getty Images

Just like Lin Jong’s 2016 tour through Collingwood’s facilities, it is a story with all the right ingredients: loyalty, cash, honour, secrecy.

For Buckley to drop that nugget in the first place had many wondering at his motivation.

Was the famously media savvy coach just being honest or was it an outright pitch to Lynch given the Tigers are seen to be ahead in the race?

But if you move past that, it is ridiculous for anyone to think Lynch is out of line to talk to other clubs while contracted as a Sun.

Lynch is right in the middle of a decision that will dictate his entire football career.

He needs every shred of information possible to inform him about the correct choice.

Put yourself in Lynch’s shoes as a 25-year-old removed from the Victorian bubble.

You would want to meet Alex Rance and find out if he really had an issue with him being parachuted into Richmond’s forward line on $1 million a year.

Bulldog Lin Jong met with Collingwood during the 2016 season. Picture: Mark Stewart

You would want to meet Buckley and get your own feel for the man Eddie McGuire says has made significant change these past years.

The greatest selling point at Collingwood has always been its ability to set a player up for life with networks, links to coterie groups and marketing potential.

If McGuire hasn’t already met Lynch while he is recuperating down in Blairgowrie — or offered to — he isn’t doing his job as Pies president.

Alastair Clarkson is the best coach in the AFL.

Not using him as a personal selling point to Lynch — how he can use him, how he can improve him — would be a no-brainer.

The timing is key.

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Given Gold Coast has been desperate to find out his intentions for months, waiting until year’s end to amass that information isn’t a viable option.

Buckley said he met Lynch “a while back”, with Lynch’s camp adamant all season he isn’t meeting anyone in season.

If it is that he met with Lynch over the last off-season, that’s fine too given Lynch always knew he was entering his decision year.

If he met with a handful of rival senior coaches over a summer frothy and decided the grass was just as green at home, it would have instructed his decision to re-sign.

Ever been headhunted by a rival business?

Bet you had one of those furtive meetings in a quiet cafe with a possible employer, checking over your shoulder your current boss didn’t walk in.

The question now for Lynch is when he tells the Suns.

Get it over with, Tom.

His management says he is still racked with indecision. That might be true, but to be frank Gold Coast doesn’t believe it.

Once he is passed fit to fly after knee surgery he should hop on the first plane, look Stuart Dew in the eyes and rip off the bandaid quickly.

Then he has 10 weeks before anyone can officially offer a free agency deal to meet as many people as he sees fit to make the decision that will define him as a footballer.

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