- Kane Cornes blasted Richmond forward Tom Lynch during their clash vs Carlton
- It came after Lynch produced a high shot on Carlton star Tom De Koning
Footy greats Kane Cornes and Nick Riewoldt have hit out at Richmond forward Tom Lynch after he produced a dangerous high bump on Carlton star Tom De Koning on Thursday night.
Despite an underwhelming first half-performance, the Tigers stunned the Blues to produce a sensational second-half comeback and seal a 82-69 victory against their Victorian rivals at the MCG.
No 1 draft pick Sam Lalor dazzled on his debut kicking two goals, while Toby Nankervis, Seth Campbell and Jack Ross also bagged a brace of goals each to mastermind the comeback.
But all eyes will turn to the fate of Lynch in the coming days, with the experienced Tigers forward potentially set for a meeting with the league’s Match Review Officer over a dangerous high shot.
It came on his first game back since Round 15 of last season, having also only played eight matches across the past two seasons due to injury.
Last year’s wooden spoon winners were slow to get out of the blocks against Carlton on Thursday night at the MCG heading into the sheds at half-time down 50-25.
Tom Lynch could be in hot water over this hit on Tom De Koning during Richmond’s clash against Carlton
Fox star David King claimed that Lynch could be ‘nervous’ having bumped the Carlton star after he had disposed of the footy
But the main talking point was Lynch’s hit on De Koning, with the Richmond star appearing to bump his shoulder into De Koning’s head during the second quarter after the Carlton ruck had disposed of the football.
‘I think he’s got less to worry about if he had knocked him out, because if he had knocked him out he would have been looking at five to six weeks,’ Nick Riewoldt said to Channel 7 at half-time on the hit.
‘It’s late, he leaves the ground, it’s high. This is exactly the sort of action we’re trying to legislate out of the game. You can see he gets rid of the ball well and truly before Lynch elects to bump. And I mean he’s so lucky Tom Lynch.’
De Koning spent some time on the touchline after the hit but appeared to be OK to continue. Mitch Cleary later confirmed that the ruckman was ‘cleared of any concerns’.
Cornes, meanwhile, was much more critical of Lynch, arguing that the hit was reckless considering the Tigers need Lynch to be kicking goals.
Cornes: ‘He’s so lucky Tom Lynch. And he’s just got to be better than that. He’s played eight games in the last two seasons.
‘They need that experience out there and Harry Armstrong needs that experience out there. And with the injury troubles that he’s had, he knows you can’t do that.
‘It’s a moment of frustration because Jacob Weitering had the better of him there. It’s not good enough for a leader of the club.’
Nick Riewold (left) and Kane Cornes (right) both hit out at Lynch, with the latter claiming the bump was a ‘brain fade’
Lynch (left) is making his first game back since Round 15 of last season, having also only played eight matches across the past two seasons due to injury
Richmond got off to a slow start on Thursday night with Jacob Weitering (left) dominating the Tigers forwards in defence
‘No wonder we can be hard on Tom Lynch. We cant afford to have brain fades like that and him be missing. Because when he has played, he is one of the better key forwards in football.’
Weitering had an impressive first half performance at half-back, sweeping the line and breaking up multiple Tigers’ long balls with five intercept marks in the first-half.
With Richomond struggling to find the goal, Riewoldt reflected on what Adam Yze could be saying to Lynch at half-time.
‘If I’m Adam Yza, I’m getting to Tom Lynch: “Hey you let us down. You’re probably going to miss next week. How about you get out there and lead by example and take Weitering out this second half.’
