Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans admits Tom Lynch’s late-season axing as co-captain probably wouldn’t have happened if Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley hadn’t publicly revealed he had met with him.
Restricted free agent Lynch informed the Suns he would leave the club at the end of the AFL season to return to Victoria, with the Magpies among a number of teams in the mix for his signature.
Buckley confirmed last month he had met Lynch, who was in Melbourne for knee surgery, and later expressed regret over his comments.
In a pointed critique of Buckley’s methods, Evans said the coach could have gone about things differently as Victorian clubs now circle their departing key forward.
“The last two weeks haven’t been terrific for the code, I don’t think, in terms of this issue,” he told reporters on Friday.
“It’s difficult to be false when you’re asked a question, but also difficult to completely blurt out everything … I think we’d be in a different spot if that hadn’t happened.”
Free agency rules mean clubs can’t publicly make an offer for Lynch until October, but Evans justified the club’s internal pressure on Lynch to make an early call despite that.
“One way or another we had pressed Tom pretty hard over the last couple of months for answers and I can’t back away from that,” Evans said.
“It feels like it was the right thing for the Gold Coast Suns to get its ship in order.
“I’m not sure you can have your cake and eat it too, (but) we’d probably prefer it wasn’t public.”
Standing alongside Evans, Suns coach Stuart Dew said Buckley’s actions had put a spanner in the works.
“I think he went on radio to say if he had his time again he wouldn’t have put it on the radar,” he said, acknowledging the pair had spoken.
“I think he was aware that that put it out in the public eye and did change the look of it.”
Lynch informed his teammates and the club’s board of his decision to leave on Thursday after eight years at the club and was then told he would be stripped of his co-captaincy.
The 25-year-old could earn about $1.2 million a season on a five-year deal at his next club.
Collingwood and Richmond appear to be frontrunners after Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson confirmed on Friday he hadn’t met with Lynch.
Former Magpie Jarrod Witts will lead the Suns against Melbourne on Sunday in an ironic twist given May (suspended) Lynch (knee) and David Swallow (concussion) are unavailable.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Not the end of the world if the Pies miss Lynch. Grundy has become the main man to tie up at the Pies for the rest of his career.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
You Tube. Pretty sure that is really PtS.
User
Roar Rookie
South Park or YouTube?
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Leave Brittney alone!
Wayne Stringer
Guest
I would put my money on Hawthorn when you look at recent history especially O'Meara and Mitchell.
User
Roar Rookie
Buckley was the one to bring his meeting with an opposition club captain into the open forum, it's unprofessional and as far as I can see Richmond have not put their meetings with Lynch in flashing lights so regardless of interest they haven't opened themselves up to criticism and in the interest of his club mark Evans is right to highlight disappointment in the actions of the Collingwood football club.
User
Roar Rookie
Buckley was the one to bring his meeting with an opposition club captain into the open forum, it's unprofessional and as far as I can see Richmond have not put their meetings with Lynch in flashing lights so regardless of interest they haven't opened themselves up to criticism and in the interest of his club mark Evans is right to highlight disappointment in the actions of the Collingwood football club.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
He had already demanded a decision from Lynch on his return from Blairgowrie, just using Bucks honesty as the scapegoat for blame. Regardless, it's been speculation for two years Lynch leaving. Why not have a crack at him meeting Neil Balme last year?
Chris
Guest
Buckley knew that he wasn't going to get Lynch so he threw caution to the wind so that the journos could have a field day. He stated the obvious and that came as a shock to the moral fringe. What a terrible thing to do Nathan! You ought to be reprimanded and sent to the corner with a Dunce's hat. This is how ridiculous all this tripe is! Lynch is going and everyone knows where he has decided to go. Punt Road! So, leave US (MAGGIES) alone and waste your time with something else lads! Our coach spoke to a would-be Tiger...Why don't you talk about that slimy lot???
User
Roar Rookie
C'mon pts perfectly valid for the GCS to view his position as untenable if he was having meetings with Buckley and then confirmed he was leaving, how do you expect a club to react to that? Especially in first few pressers after event.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Big deal Evans. Perhaps if your club hadn't put Rodney Eade on as coach, the Suns might have had enough success to keep Tom? That same Rodney Eade who has taken suburban powerhouse Balwyn in the EFL to 6th and struggling to play finals. Bucks was either strategically answering or momentarily off his guard. Move on.