Quinten Lynch has been a star at Collingwood this season, but West Coast veteran Daniel Kerr says the big man would be struggling to get a game at the 15th-placed Eagles.

Lynch notched 209 games for the Eagles and played a key role in their 2006 premiership before switching to Collingwood under the AFL’s free agency rules at the end of last season.

With the Eagles boasting Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox in the ruck, plus Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy up forward, Lynch found himself on the outer towards the end of his time at West Coast.

The 30-year-old has been a revelation at the Magpies this year, combining well with fellow spearhead Travis Cloke in attack as well as providing valuable back-up in the ruck.

Lynch performed a similar role at West Coast, and would have probably featured heavily for the struggling Eagles this season due to Naitanui’s groin problems.

But Kerr isn’t so sure, saying Lynch is better off at Collingwood and made the right move to switch clubs.

“If Lynchy was here he’d be fighting for his position week in week out,” Kerr said.

“So I think his move benefited him and benefited our club in the sense that we don’t have people jostling for spots every week at training.

“I don’t think Lynchy would be overly handy (at West Coast) at the minute because we’re not deficient at centre half-forward.

“Jack’s doing a fantastic job and Josh is doing a fantastic job, so I’d be surprised if Lynchy was playing a role at the minute at our club.

“Collingwood probably don’t have the luxury of having a Kennedy and a Darling. They probably have Cloke and they got rid of Chris Dawes so they needed someone to fill that role.

“He’s definitely left for greener pastures at the moment. Lynchy is playing great footy.”

West Coast received a third-round selection as compensation for losing Lynch, and used it to draft former St Kilda rookie Mark Hutchings, who remains an outside chance to make his AFL debut in Sunday’s clash with the Bulldogs in Perth.