Lynch’s flying flag: Suns’ AFL coach

His side was trailing by three goals at halftime and Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna was receiving plenty of advice from the crowd on Saturday at Etihad Stadium.

“There was a supporter who told me at halftime, as I was running down, who said ‘get Tom Lynch deep’,” McKenna said after his side’s 19-point AFL loss to Essendon.

“As we were coming back up the race after we discussed that at halftime I said ‘mate you got your wish’.

“And we got our wish. Tommy, he has been super.”

Lynch booted four goals from limited opportunities, lifting his season’s tally to 43 majors.

Essendon’s 16.12 (108) to 13.11 (89) victory was Gold Coast’s ninth loss in their past 12 outings, leaving them on a 10-11 record with one game remaining against West Coast next Sunday.

Since skipper Gary Ablett’s season-ending shoulder injury in round 16 on July 5, the Suns have lost five of their six games, blowing their chance of a maiden finals appearance in their fourth season.

But McKenna says the Suns are learning all the time and they took a step forward with a solid effort against the Bombers.

Lynch, a 21-year-old in his 59th game, flew the flag strongly for his side according to McKenna.

“He has had a super year,” McKenna said.

“Tom Lynch amazes me with his work-rate.

“He is a fighter. He is a competitor and he has been fantastic.

“In the period of eight weeks where we have not been playing great football you can certainly say he has got his hands on the flag and he has waved it as hard as he possibly can.”

The young Suns simply must find a way to bring the required level of intensity for the whole game, McKenna said.

“We’ll be better for this,” McKenna said.

Essendon scored a narrow victory 133-128 in the contested-possessions.

“We probably did OK there whereas in the last month we’ve been belted by over 20 in the contested ball,” McKenna said.

“We certainly got part of our mojo back.”

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