Five-goal hero Tom Lynch shows Collingwood what it missed out on

Tom Lynch chose Richmond over Collingwood last year and the Tigers forward rubbed salt in the Magpies’ wounds with a stunning five-goal performance last night.

Richmond forward Tom Lynch celebrates a goal. Picture: Michael Klein

Collingwood did everything in its power to try and prise away Tom Lynch from Richmond’s clutches last year.

List manager Ned Guy even jumped a back fence last July to avoid the media after a would-be clandestine meeting at the family’s Blairgowrie property.

Last night you could see precisely why.

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Lynch ultimately chose the Tigers over the Magpies (Adam Treloar went the other way a few years earlier).

And right now Lynch’s white-hot form is the reason why Richmond has rocketed into $3.50 premiership favouritism with TAB.

The lack of a genuine superstar key forward is clearly biting Collingwood on the backside.

Only 2½ months ago, Lynch was struggling for fluid movement, prompting Damien Hardwick to fiercely defend the key forward following the Tigers’ loss to the Western Bulldogs.

Tom Lynch kicks one of his five goals against Collingwood. Picture: Michael Klein

Right now, he looks like the most damaging key forward in the game.

Lynch was almost unstoppable last night, setting the scene early on a cold and wet night that should hardly be conducive to a player standing almost 200cm.

He kicked the Tigers’ first goal of the night, four majors in the first half, and had an involvement in eight of the first nine Richmond goals.

That was virtually game over then and there.

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The 26-year-old — thriving on finally getting some Friday night air-time — did something few players have achieved this year.

He outpointed Jordan Roughead before the Magpie defender was forced from the field after copping a footy to the face.

That left an undersized Matt Scharenberg conscripted on to Lynch.

It was far from ideal, as the Richmond forward kept taking marks, if becoming a little inaccurate.

Lynch has been held goalless on only two occasions this season (against Sydney in Round 5 and the Bulldogs in Round 7).

Tom Lynch celebrates a goal with Jayden Short. Picture: AAP

But his past five weeks have shown what game time and continuity can do for him after an interrupted pre-season.

He has his body in the right shape at the right time of the year.

Lynch has kicked three goals or more in his past five games.

He hasn’t yet nailed more than the six goals he scored against Port Adelaide in Round 4, but his impact on the game has gone up several notches since then.

He might have left his run a little late in an effort to catch Jeremy Cameron in the Coleman Medal race.

But the way he is playing, you would never say never.