Richmond coach Damien Hardwick interested in luring free agent Tom Lynch away from Gold Coast

RICHMOND is interested in luring Tom Lynch away from Gold Coast as a free agent at the end of the season and Tigers coach Damien Hardwick hasn’t ruled out meeting with the gun forward during the season.

Richmond is interested in luring free agent Tom Lynch away from Gold Coast at the end of the season. Picture: Getty

NEWLY re-signed Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says he would love to secure free agent Tom Lynch and would make room for his massive salary next year.

But the Tigers coach says he finds the process of meeting and wooing rival players in-season unedifying and discomforting.

As forecast in the Herald Sun last month, Hardwick has signed a contract extension before Round 1 that will take him past Tom Hafey’s remarkable Tigers tenure.

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That three-year deal until 2021 will take his reign to 12 years, the Tigers on Tuesday lauding the 45-year-old’s ability to build a winning culture.

Under AFL rules clubs are allowed to meet with rival players and their managers mid-year to pitch for their services.

Clearly Lynch would be an ideal fit for Richmond and a perfect succession plan or foil for star premiership forward Jack Riewoldt, who turns 30 in October.

In a Fox Footy interview to be broadcast during Wednesday night’s Richmond-Kangaroos game, Hardwick makes clear the Tigers will be a contender for Lynch’s services.

Richmond is interested in luring free agent Tom Lynch away from Gold Coast at the end of the season. Picture: Getty

“The quality of player who Tom is is incredible,” he said.

“Those sort of players very rarely come out of contract, especially with free-agency … to not cost draft picks, you probably make room for that type of player.

“He’s an incredible athlete, great player and a great leader by all accounts. The quality of those sort of players don’t come out often, so you’ve got to have a look at it.”

Asked how far out from his contract expiration on October 31 the Tigers would talk to Lynch, the premiership coach was frank.

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“You are actually allowed to do this. We do talk to players that are out of contract … It’s an uncomfortable situation because I’m talking to opposition players and opposition clubs are talking to my players, it’s probably not a great look for our game.

“I’d rather it just took place at the end of the year. This is prior to Round 1 — we’re already speaking about Tom Lynch who’s got a whole year to play at a club that he’s heavily invested in.

Tom Lynch will again co-captain Gold Coast with Steven May in 2018. Picture: Mike Batterham

“Look we do (meet them). It’s not something I overly enjoy doing. I love meeting the kids, they’re great. The worst thing about being the coach is you fall in love with every single one of them. You want them all at your footy club. It’s part and parcel of what we do.”

Hardwick has in the past called for an anti-tampering rule that means clubs can’t discuss rival players while they are in contract.

While Collingwood’s meeting with out-of-contract Bulldog Lin Jong at the Holden Centre drew outrage, players meeting rival clubs happens often behind closed doors.

Richmond coach Brendon Gale has already indicated Dustin Martin’s seven-year deal will not rule out the Tigers making strong rival offers.

He has suggested they would have room for Lynch, and Hardwick clearly agrees.

“Well, you’d have to ask the list manager. I’ll have space because he’s a bloody good player,’’ he said (laughing).

“The money side of things, I don’t know. Let them figure that one out.”