AFL 2019: Richmond recruit Tom Lynch says he’s ready to play in Round 1 and has asked club to allow him to
AFL
Tom Morris
March 18, 2019 8:41pm
TOM MORRIS@tommorris32
Source: FOX SPORTS
Will star recruit Tom Lynch feature in Damien Hardwick’s Round 1 Richmond side? (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Will star recruit Tom Lynch feature in Damien Hardwick’s Round 1 Richmond side? (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Star Richmond recruit Tom Lynch has declared himself ready to rumble ahead of Thursday night’s blockbuster season opener against Carlton.
More than 80,000 fans are expected to pack into the MCG and the yellow and black contingent will be hoping the Tigers coach and fitness staff share their star recruits optimism.
Lynch joined in full skills training six weeks ago after off-season surgery on his knee. In early March the 26-year-old begun full contact work and on Tuesday he was absolute in his belief he should be selected for Round 1.
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“I feel like I’m ready to go,” Lynch said at Fox Footy’s Season Launch at Chin Chin restaurant.
“I’ve told Dimma that I feel fit and ready to go. It’s just whether the fitness staff feel like I’ve done enough.
“I feel confident for it and ready to go… I feel fully confident in my knee. It’s probably not even my knee at the moment. It’s probably just whether they think the load will be too big. I’m confident and feel like I’m ready to go.”
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Two weeks ago Damien Hardwick suggested it would be up to Lynch to say whether he’s right to play or not in Round 1.
“Once he feels confident to put his hand up to play I will be slapping his magnet up on the board,” Hardwick said.
“He has a great understanding of his body and he knows what he needs to do to get right ... we’re really confident that he is going to be a really good player for us and when he is ready he will let us know.”
It would take a significant change of heart or backflip from Hardwick to rule the star forward out now he’s declared himself fit.
It’s understood the Tigers are yet to make a firm decision on Lynch’s availability but won’t play ducks and drakes up to the first bounce. A final call will be made on Wednesday after training.
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Lynch and the players had the day off on Tuesday, which saw Jack Higgins and Bachar Houli join the former Gold Coast skipper at the Fox Footy Season Launch.
Last Saturday Lynch underwent a fitness test of sorts at Punt Road and passed with flying colours. Up against defender Ryan Garthwaite in old fashioned one-on-one ball work, he moved freely and said he recovered well.
“It was fairly footy specific,” Lynch said.
“Some of the old fashioned roll the ball out and pick it up, which is the old gruelling session.
“That was the biggest session I’ve done. It was full contact and I’ve pulled up fine from it.”
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Despite being adamant he is ready to play, Lynch said the alternative of a VFL hit out to regain touch remains a realistic option. If that is the case, he is likely to play just a half in the VFL.
Whatever decision is made on Wednesday, Lynch will be comfortable with the call.
“I obviously want to play and keen to play,” he said.
“At the end of the day they (the doctors and fitness staff) are the experts and are paid to do their job well. They will make the best decision possible for me and the team.”
Lynch booted 254 goals from 131 games for Gold Coast before joining Richmond during the exchange period.
