Tale of two Toms: Time for Tiger Lynch to get movingWayne Carey
The Age
7 June 2019With a mixture of experience and greater confidence in his body, last year Hawkins really was the complete forward and unlucky not to be selected in the All-Australian team. Aggressive in the contest and clean below his knees, he is much more than just a kick-mark forward.
Last year he did it despite the fact he was often under immense pressure as the focal point of the Geelong forward-line. Tom would have gone into every game knowing that such was the reliance on him that he probably needed to play well for the Cats to win.
That's not to say he wasn't a very good player previously, just that he's taken his game to a new level.
At times during his career, he's been more one-dimensional, but recently he's managed to get himself up the ground more often. Like Jack Riewoldt - who I also think has enjoyed his best footy in the past two seasons, even better than his Coleman Medal years - Hawkins has honed his craft. He knows when to push up and be a target down the line and when to stay closer to home.
It's that multi-dimensional play that Lynch needs to develop in his new surroundings. We know he can do it, because he showed us when he was on the Gold Coast.
A slower start to the pre-season following knee surgery last year would certainly have an impact, because if you don't get that solid block of training in pre-Christmas, you're generally chasing your tail for the entire season.
Without knowing the intricate details of his program, it's unlikely he would have got anywhere near the volume of running in his legs he'd need to be firing. And if you try and increase those loads now, it can make you more sluggish when it matters on the weekend.
That being said, looking at Lynch's overall numbers so far in 2019, they just aren't good enough, particularly when compared with Hawkins.
After 11 matches Hawkins has been the target inside 50 on just 21 per cent of the Cats' entries, compared with Lynch's 30 per cent for the Tigers. Yet Hawkins is averaging more touches (13.9 a game compared with 8.2 for Lynch), more marks (5.7 to 3.7) and more score involvements (8.3 to 5.0).
If Lynch is not marking the footy, he's having very little influence, and that was exploited last Friday night when he had just five touches and was pushed around by the North Melbourne defence.
The key to overcoming those types of issues is, firstly, work rate, and then an absolute commitment to the contest.
Don't allow your opponent to manipulate you. Make sure you're the one putting them in uncomfortable positions. If you tell yourself before the game you're going to be bashed and battered and you're mentally ready for any punishment that comes your way, it can become easier once the game begins.
Lynch's body language and the way he holds himself will be important not just for teammates feeding off him but also to send a message to a Geelong defence that will be looking for any weakness.
Whoever he plays on, whether it be Mark Blicavs, Tom Stewart or Harry Taylor, he's facing All-Australian quality.
Compete and create a contest when he's outnumbered, and suddenly the confidence around him also grows. For Richmond that's especially crucial because of the way they set up with so many smaller pressure forwards. They need to know where the footy is going and where it will drop.
Selflessness has been a major virtue for Riewoldt and Hawkins in recent years. Now Lynch must produce the same. Richmond's fate depends on it.
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