The form of Richmond’s Tom Lynch has been questioned this week following his goalless outing in last weekend’s loss to Melbourne.
Lynch was below his best in the defeat and with his overall return being 10 goals in six games so far this season, it attracted questions regarding his output.
Reporters singled out Lynch at this week’s press conference which prompted a vehement response from Tigers coach Damien Hardwick.
Hardwick firmly suggested on Wednesday that goals and marks are not the be-all for Lynch who has helped the Tigers win two premierships in the two seasons he has been at the club.
“Tom could go to another club and be more dynamic as a player, there's no doubt,” Hardwick said.
“He comes to our club, he fulfils a role. What we determine that role is, allows us to win games of footy.
“There's no doubt he could play in a different format, a different system, and get All-Australian honours.
“But the reality is he comes in and he's happy to fulfil this role and he gets two premiership medals as a result of that.
“The fact of the matter is Tom is a very valued player in our system and what we choose to pay that player is what we think he's worth - end of story.”
Discussing the situation on SEN Breakfast, Sam Edmund and David King had slightly differing opinions on the form of Lynch and what makes him valuable to the Tigers.
Edmund pies the question: “Let’s boil it down, here’s there to kick goals and take marks, isn’t he?
“Let’s strip it back. They talk about bringing the ball to ground, creating a contest, pressure. But you’re paying him nearly a million dollars a season.”
King was more forgiving of the 28-year-old, highlighting the fact that Richmond never sacrificed draft selections to get him and simply offered him the money they believed he was worth when he crossed from the Gold Coast Suns at the end of 2018.
He fully backed Hardwick’s stance on and defence of Lynch.
“If you haven’t got him, the hole in your team if he’s not there overrides the financial discussion, I think,” the former North Melbourne champ said.
“You don’t know the impact they (key forwards) have until you haven’t got one. For what he’s been able to do for Jack Riewoldt, he’s freed up Jack, hasn’t he?
“He (Hardwick) is trying to educate us really. You don’t have to believe it if you don’t want. I think when a coach talks like this you’ve got to sit back sometimes and say, ‘What am I missing here?’
“I think that was a really healthy discussion for all of us.”
Lloyd critical of Richmond forward who is “not going that well”
King further pinpointed the impact Lynch has on the side, particularly Richmond’s small forwards, even if he isn’t charging around clunking marks and banging home goals.
“You’ve got to look at the overall picture,” he added.
“(Jason) Castagna has kicked nine goals, (Jake) Aarts has kicked seven, (Daniel) Rioli has kicked six, Shai Bolton four goals. So do those goals come about if Lynch is not bringing the ball to ground?
“That’s their game, isn’t it? That’s Richmond’s game. The chaotic game at ground level. If he marks it, great. If he has a six-goal game, great.
“Without him in 2019, in Jack’s absence, he was fantastic. You’re not winning that flag, you’re not in the same position you are as a football club without him.
“We get too consumed, and certainly the fans do, with what you’re paying these guys. He really cost them nothing in a draft, he hasn’t cost them any picks because he was a free agent, so it’s finance only.
“I don’t understand the conversation. I think the way Damien answered that question was brilliant.”
The Tigers slumped to their third loss in four weeks in Round 6 and will be looking to bounce back against ladder leaders the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Friday night.