Tigers to seek clarity from AFL after forward's 'white line fever' boils overBy Sarah Black at the MCG
afl.com.au
30 June 2025RICHMOND will seek clarification on marking contests involving Tom Lynch after the spearhead's frustration boiled over into a roundhouse strike at Adelaide defender Jordon Butts.
Lynch was disposal-less at half-time, having given away five free kicks and placed under report for his punch. He is a chance to face further sanctions for a follow-up scuffle involving Mark Keane, and also appeared to graze the face of Dan Curtain with his boot in the first term.
"In the moment, as a coach, you're disappointed. Because a few of them, we had possession and we were out and we're finally looking like we're going to execute, and his frustration spills over," Richmond coach Adem Yze said.
"But in saying that, we're going to seek clarification on the marking contests, because he's such a big man, and they do scrag him, and he's feeling like he's getting held. Then he doesn't, and the ball goes down the other end and we give away three free kicks in aerial contests, in one passage of play.
"We've got to look at all these things, and we've got to help him through it. No excuse in his response, but I understand his frustration.
"We don't want to take that away from him, that's why he's been such a good player for this footy club for such a long time - he's got white-line fever and he wants to win, and he wants to mark and an opportunity to mark every time it goes down the line, because he knows that's his job.
"Especially when he's playing with younger forwards around him, that's heightened. We'll seek clarification on the way it's been adjudicated, but two, we'll make sure we're coaching the right technique and getting guys to fly around him."
In this day and age, coaches roll out the old "I didn't see the incident" without blinking, but Yze seemed genuinely confused when asked about potential replacements for next week's game against Geelong.
"[Playing] without 'Lynchy'? Why's that? Oh okay, I didn't see the incident, but I hope that isn't the case. If it is, we might have to look at Noah (Balta) anyway with 'Kelts' (Mykelti Lefau) going out.
"We've got Tom Sims, and Jacob Bauer played well yesterday, so we've got some tall stocks. We might have to get creative, whether it's Noah or any of our defenders who are happy to go forward."
Yze said Lefau had suffered a minor calf injury in his return game to the top level. Following an ACL tear last May, he had played around a month's worth of VFL footy before his call-up.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1353299/richmond-tigers-to-seek-clarity-from-afl-after-forward-tom-lynchs-white-line-fever-boils-over
