Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew fears Tom Lynch will leave the club at season’s end

THE popular belief is out-of-contract star Tom Lynch has played his last game for the Gold Coast Suns. Coach Stuart Dew said nothing today to quell those fears.

Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew admits fans might have seen the last of star forward Tom Lynch in Gold Coast colours. Picture: Getty Images/AFL Media

GOLD Coast coach Stuart Dew admits the chances of retaining co-captain Tom Lynch beyond this AFL season are “not looking great”.

The off-contract forward had successful surgery on his troublesome knee in Melbourne on Tuesday and will miss the remainder of the Suns’ season. Dew says he has “parked” discussions about Lynch’s future for now but fears he may have played his last game for the struggling franchise.

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Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew admits fans might have seen the last of star forward Tom Lynch in Gold Coast colours. Picture: Getty Images/AFL Media

“We’re trying to snap a losing streak and Tom can’t help with that,” Dew said on Wednesday.

“History suggests that if you don’t know (if a player is staying) in round 18 and he’s our captain, it’s not looking great.

“But that’s the reality of AFL footy and we’re certainly planning for both.” Lynch is expected to fetch well in excess of $1 million a season with his next deal and the Suns’ 11-game losing streak and 3-13 record are hardly helping their retention cause.

Suns chairman Tony Cochrane said it was “obvious” the club wanted a decision sooner rather than later from Lynch.

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“We’re hopeful that straight after his operation is over that Tom gives us a clear indication of his intent,” he told AAP on Wednesday.

“We’ve been patient, will continue to be patient and we’re planning for either (scenario), but the sooner we know where we stand the better off we all are.” The Suns travel to Sydney this weekend to play the Swans and Dew indicated changes would be made after a host of top-line players returned via the NEAFL last weekend.

Veteran defender Pearce Hanley was one of those, however Dew said his lack of game time this season meant he was likely to spend at least another week in reserve grade.

—AAP

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Originally published as Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew fears Tom Lynch will leave the club at season’s end