Australian Football Hall of Famer Terry Wallace says he wouldn’t play Tom Lynch in Richmond’s season opener against Carlton.
The prized Tigers recruit didn’t feature in the club’s two JLT Community Series matches as he continues to work his way back to full fitness after undergoing knee surgery in November.
Lynch, 26, suffered a PCL injury last July which ruled him out for a large chunk of the 2018 season for former club Gold Coast.
“I wouldn’t play him,” Wallace told SEN’s KB and The Doc.
“I’ve always had a theory that in the first couple of weeks of the season that you’re far better off playing blokes who are up and running and physically ready for the contest, over name players who are underdone and haven’t done the work.
“There maybe one or two exceptions. Clearly if a Buddy Franklin is available you might make a decision to go with someone like that, but I’m talking about in general terms.
“To me, I wouldn’t be playing him. I would be erring on the side of caution.”
Lynch landed at Punt Road on a six-year contract in one of the most high-profile deals of last year's trade period.
