Little tap or cheap shot? Footy world divided over Tom Lynch actJoey Riordan
5 August 2020 The footy world is divided over Tom Lynch’s shove to the back of Alex Witherden’s head on Tuesday night.
Richmond’s star forward tackled Witherden from behind then shoved him in the head while he was still on the ground during the Tigers’ 41-point win over the Lions at Metricon Stadium.
Now AFL greats and journalists are in disagreement over whether the star deserves a week on the sidelines for his indiscretion.
7NEWS AFL reporter had his say on Wednesday, saying the incident was simply a “tap on the head” and didn’t deserve a suspension.
“I love the way Tom Lynch plays footy. His tap on the head isn’t a week,” Browne wrote on Twitter.
“It’s a little drive by/niggle that happens throughout the game.
“The incident is so irrelevant it’s almost not even worth talking about. Play on.”
That sentiment was shared by AFL great Garry Lyon who declared there was nothing in it.
“I thought that was a little rabbity but there’s nothing in that, that’s just a reminder you’ve got to get rid of the ball quicker than that, son,” Lyon said.
Journalist Mark Gottlieb agreed Lynch shouldn’t be facing any disciplinary action, but called the act a “rubbish look”.
“Shouldn’t even get a fine but it’s a rubbish look. Pretty p***weak from a gun player,” Gottlieb wrote.
However St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt insisted it was an act that should be stamped out of the game.
“I think it’s got to be down to the players as a fraternity to come together and get rid of that stuff that’s crept in,” Riewoldt said on Fox Footy.
“I don’t think it does anyone any favours. It doesn’t look good for Tom Lynch, it doesn’t look good for the game.”
AFL reporter Tom Morris agreed, saying Lynch should be facing a week out.
“Reckon Tom Lynch probably gets a week for this. Intentional, low impact, high contact = 1 game,” Morris wrote.
https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/little-tap-or-cheap-shot-footy-world-divided-over-tom-lynch-act-c-1217359
