Gold Coast Suns have the capacity to match any free agency bid for Tom Lynch
IF Tom Lynch decides to accept a deal from a Victorian club, the Gold Coast Suns have the capacity to match any free agency bid, but will they be prepared to do so?
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GOLD Coast would consider matching a free agency bid for Tom Lynch if he decides to accept a deal from a Victorian club.
The Suns are pulling out all stops to retain Lynch, which includes considering how matching a bid would give them a second chance to keep him.
No AFL club has officially matched a free agency bid, mostly because players like Sydney’s Lance Franklin are handed massive deals that rivals cannot match.
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But the Suns have more salary cap room than Hawthorn and Richmond and believe captain Lynch is still a strong chance to stay.
Gold Coast chairman Tony Cochrane said this week the club would do “whatever we have to do to retain Tom”.
Even if Lynch subsequently asked for a trade after the Suns matched a bid, Gold Coast could extract a bigger return than a free agency compensation selection.
On current ladder position they would receive pick No.6 in the November national draft, then pick No.7 as a compensation pick for Lynch.
When Adelaide threatened to match a bid for Patrick Dangerfield they secured picks nine, 28 and youngster Dean Gore in a trade instead of a single late first-round pick.
Lynch’s manager Paul Connors has assured Gold Coast that Lynch will not personally consider overtures for his services mid-season.
Gold Coast’s capacity to match any bid could also influence the length of any deals offered to him.
If a rival like Richmond offered a five or six-year deal to Lynch, which the Suns then matched, they would have the power to retain him for the same tenure.
Gold Coast might decide not to match a shorter deal such as a two-season contract, knowing they would quickly be faced with a similar situation when he became an unrestricted free agent.
If a bid is matched, a player can seek a trade, enter the national draft or stay at the club on those exact terms.
The Suns have attempted to play hardball on departing players, Cochrane eventually relenting on a threat to only trade Jaeger O’Meara if they secured ready-made players in return.
Cochrane told Macquarie Radio on Monday he was upset with the constant speculation about Lynch.
“I don't know whether its affecting him, it’s certainly giving us the sh--s,’’ he said.
“It is the only thing people in Melbourne can talk about, who they want to pinch next to drag back to Melbourne to play there.
“We will do whatever we have to do to retain Tom and will fight very hard to retain him.
“He is such an important part of the furniture at the Gold Coast. Tom is a really important part of the future and he knows how we feel.
“We made him a captain at a very young age of his life, he brings so much more to our club than what he does on the field.
“I can assure you we are working very, very hard to retain Tom.”
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