In recent media outlets the comparison of Collingwood’s development has been compared to those of Richmond’s in 2017 and their long awaited premiership.
They hold much in common, such as a coach on the brink of termination, finishing 13th the year prior and playing an invigorating brand of football.
Sitting at seventh on the ladder, this Monday’s Big Freeze at the ‘G clash against the third-placed, in-form Melbourne side will be an enormous examination for the Collingwood youth.
Collingwood’s rebuild has been slow but steady, only dropping to the lowest of 13th since their last finals appearance in 2013.
The Magpies are going to have to do something miraculous to win this year’s grand final, with some strong Victorian clubs in the mix in which they have looked promising for three quarters against this year, but a lack of experience has cost them late in two instances, against the reigning premiers in Richmond and the strong force that is Geelong.
The essential key for Collingwood at the conclusion of the 2018 season is to land a superstar key forward.
Collingwood’s forward line is hardly threatening on paper but have managed to average 92 points per game with Will Hoskin-Elliot (23 goals), Josh Thomas (17 goals) and Jordan De Goey (16 goals) being the most concerning for the opposition back six.
Rising star favourite Jaidyn Stephenson has also proved to be a perfect pick up, kicking the winning goal in the dying moments against a desperate Brisbane side and recording a five-goal match-winning performance and rising star nomination in the wet against last year’s grand finalists, Adelaide.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Tom Lynch is the star that Collingwood need to chase relentlessly, the 199cm 25-year-old has kicked 249 career goals in 128 matches, a remarkable feat for a forward playing in a side that has never played finals in its seven-year establishment.
Growing up in Blairgowrie on the Mornington Peninsula, playing his football for Sorrento and the Dandenong Stingrays, Lynch is considered a star already.
Every kid who dreams of playing AFL pictures themselves playing in front of an enormous crowd at the MCG, a dream which is distant if Lynch decides to remain with the Suns.
Several clubs have entered in the race for the key forward such as Collingwood, Richmond and Hawthorn, offering oodles of money all above the $1 million per year mark.
Talk abounds that Lynch could be the highest paid player ever surpassing Lance Franklin, Tom Boyd and previous teammate Gary Ablett Junior.
The Collingwood side are a perfect fit for Lynch – they are up-and-coming and playing an exciting, fast-paced brand of football.
The benefits of moving to a club like Collingwood for Lynch are enormous, he instantly brings higher premiership chances, he lives in his home state and gets to play against incomparable audiences at home games in the greatest sporting stadium in the world.
(Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
The Gold Coast’s desperate plea to keep Lynch begun in the 2017 pre-season by appointing Lynch as a co-captain, however with the Suns languishing in 15th with the second lowest percentage and lower than Carlton for points scored, the chances of him putting pen to paper for another deal are minimal.
If they land Lynch, this could prove to be beneficial for Collingwood. Current captain Scott Pendlebury will be 31 in January next year, and this could mean Lynch could be handed the captaincy of this club in time.
Collingwood have not had a Coleman Medalist since Brian Taylor in 1986 and Lynch has had recent seasons finishing in the top three of the goal kicking race with rarely the support or service that a key forward of his calibre deserves.
If Collingwood desire joining rivals Essendon and Carlton with 16 premierships, Lynch is fundamental to that achievement.
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