Richmond Tigers forward Tom Lynch slammed for ‘pathetic’ act

Tom Lynch has once again come under scrutiny for an off-ball incident, and the Richmond forward has been labelled “selfish” and a “flog”.

Tom Lynch has once come under scrutiny for an off-ball incident, and the Richmond tall forward has been labelled “selfish” and a “flog”.

Richmond Tigers tall forward Tom Lynch could once again find himself in trouble with the Match Review Officer after he appeared to kneel on a rival’s neck.

The incident occurred during the third quarter of Friday evening’s semi-final against St Kilda at Metricon Stadium, and Lynch could therefore potentially not feature in next week’s must-win preliminary final against Port Adelaide.

After missing last week’s loss to the Brisbane Lions with injury, the 27-year-old’s first finals match of the season started perfectly. He booted a classy goal after claiming a mark inside St Kilda’s defensive 50 to get Richmond on the board within 45 seconds.

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd said on 3AW: “There is a difference between him and (Mabior) Chol last week — Chol just couldn’t compete. (Saints defender) Dougal Howard is looking nervous every time he is near Lynch, because he is under so much pressure.”

Watch the 2020 Toyota AFL Finals Series on Kayo with every game before the Grand Final Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

But things turned sour after halftime, when Lynch started wrestling with Howard on the turf and appeared to press his left knee into the defender’s neck as he returned to his feet.

Tom Lynch of the Tigers and Dougal Howard of the Saints.

LIVE SCORES: AFL Finals match centres

If MRO Michael Christian classifies the incident as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact, Lynch would be suspended for one match.

As suggested by Fox Sports reporter Tom Morris: “The crux of the issue will be whether Lynch’s knee made sufficient or insufficient force with Howard’s head. Sufficient force would equal a one-match ban, while insufficient force would clear him completely.”

Channel 7 commentator Daisy Pearce said: “It’s just a bad look … I don’t think there’s enough force there that you’ll see him rubbed out of a preliminary final.”

The tall forward has already been sent to the AFL Tribunal this season after he was cited for striking on three occasions.

After the match, Channel 7 presenter Hamish McLachlan said: “If he misses the final for a non-football act — which is an act you don’t want kids to be replicating — it’s just stupid.

“Imagine missing a week for something where you’re 30-40 metres off the ball, and you’re doing it to a guy lying on his back.

“He’s such a great player — imagine missing a final because you’ve decided to do that.”

North Melbourne legend Wayne Carey replied: “He didn’t need to do it … but there’s just not enough force in that for that to be given a week.

“It’s just not necessary, is it?”

Tom Lynch kicked two goals on Friday.

Social media blew up following the incident, footy fans blasting Lynch for his “pathetic” act.

Sports reporter Jack Hudson tweeted: “Ah there’s the Tom Lynch we know. Knee to the head. Disgrace.”

The Advocate sports writer Alex Fair tweeted: “Tom Lynch being Tom Lynch.”

AAP reporter Callum Godde posted: “Never forget that the MRO empowered Tom Lynch’s cheap thuggery.”

The Age journalist Daniel Cherny tweeted: “Lynch has already been sent to the tribunal once under the recidivist rule and could conceivably be sent there again. He’s a champion badly hurting his reputation with this stuff.”

ABC journalist James Dunlevie tweeted: “I’m a Tigers fan but jeez Tom Lynch is a bit of a flog.”

News reporter James Mottershead posted: “Tom Lynch, the guy doesn’t learn. Or it’s just so ingrained in him to do cheap stuff. Either way, so pathetic.”

Former AFLW Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman posted: “Lynch needs a week, otherwise every kid when they play next year will think they can knee an opponent in the head on purpose when on the ground.”

Sports reporter Ned Balme tweeted: “Tom Lynch is too big and too strong to be so consistently doing weak stuff like that. It’s selfish and adds a needless external distraction heading into a preliminary final.”

Watching that knee incident again, if Lynch doesn't cop a week then there is something very wrong with the MRO. #AFLTigersSaints

— Basil Zoccali (@BasilZoccali) October 9, 2020

Lynch missed his head fortunately. Major brain fart however. #AFLFinals

— Ashley Browne (@hashbrowne) October 9, 2020

'It's just a bad look': The Tom Lynch Story

— Luke Henriques-Gomes (@lukehgomes) October 9, 2020

Thanks to Tom Lynch's fines the AFL will make a healthy profit this year.

— Scott Dooley (@scottdools) October 9, 2020

READ MORE: AFL legend blasts ‘archaic nonsense’

READ MORE: Saints robbed by ‘disgraceful’ blunder

But not everybody believed the incident warranted a suspension. Sports reporter Mark Gottlieb posted: “Tom Lynch is a grub. We have more than enough evidence now. Any talk of a suspension is over the top though.”

ABC Grandstand broadcaster Corbin Middlemas tweeted: “Absolutely nothing in the Tom Lynch-Howard incident, give me a spell.”

Lynch finished the match with two goals, five behinds, six marks and 17 disposals, helping the Tigers secure a convincing 12.8 (80) to 6.13 (49) victory over St Kilda.

Richmond will face Port Adelaide next Friday evening at Adelaide Oval, with the first bounce scheduled for 7:50pm AEDT.