Richmond forward Tom Lynch will head to the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night. He has been handed the harsher of sanctions for his behavior during a match vs. Adelaide. His second-quarter strike on Adelaide’s Jordon Butts has been classified as intentional conduct with severe impact and high contact by the AFL’s Match Review Officer, Michael Christian.
In a challenging game for Richmond, which culminated in a 68-point defeat to the Crows at the MCG, Lynch’s behavior raised concerns. He was fined twice following separate on-field incidents during the match. One of the fines was for participating in a fray, and the second was for hitting Butts. The total fines come to $4,625. In good news, Lynch may be able to significantly lower these penalties to $1,875 and $1,000, respectively, if he accepts an early plea option.
Match Overview and Penalty Details
Lynch’s jaw-dropping, hyper-competitive retribution has ignited a firestorm. He faced a barrage of ire for giving away five set-piece fouls in the opening 45 minutes. After the game, he expressed his anger. More than anything, he was irritated at the degree of contact Adelaide’s defenders were allowed to get away with.
“I was just more frustrated with how he was defending me, I thought,” he stated, referencing Butts’ defensive tactics. Richmond coach Adem Yze confirmed that Lynch took responsibility for his actions by apologizing to his teammates after the game.
At worst, Lynch’s strike was damaging and put him squarely in a defensive position. Yet today, he is now staring down the very real prospect of a multi-year suspension. Not long ago this season, he unsuccessfully attempted to appeal a one-match ban. Unlike this unsuccessful attempt at a high hit on Carlton’s Tom De Koning that led to his suspension.
History of Aggression and Conduct
Lynch has only served two suspensions since his debut in 2011. He attributes this low amount to his brand of football, one that isn’t wild and reckless. He has recently denied being accused of being too zealous with his driving style. In light of what’s happened recently, those claims are suddenly under a microscope.
After Lynch’s recent missteps, it seems pretty clear that he might have to rethink his strategy in the future. He acknowledged, “Clearly it was within the rules because there were no free kicks awarded to me and I went outside the rules,” suggesting he recognizes the fine line between competitive play and rule violations.
Upcoming Tribunal Hearing
While Lynch packs his bag for his Tribunal court appearance, the rumor mill clatters away about what additional action will be taken on him personally. He is unable to enter an early plea due to the nature of his charge. For the next three years, he will be waiting—and wondering—about his fate. Should the Tribunal find Lynch’s actions to be more than just careless or negligent, he may be looking at a long stretch away from the field.
