Gold Coast Suns AFL co-captain Tom Lynch says he was honoured and humbled to this year wear No.50 during the AFL’s Indigenous Round and the decision to do so was an easy one.
Appearing on The Marngrook Footy Show, live on NITV on Thursday night, Lynch gave an insight into a conversation he had with fellow co-captain Steven May, ahead of Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round in May.
“You wore the number 50 on Indigenous Round, which was commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum,” Marngrook panellist Leila Gurruwiwi said.
“Why was it so important to you and the club to wear that number?,” she asked.
“Steven May approached me, obviously an Indigenous Player, and he said will you wear 50?,” Lynch responded.
“And I said, I’d love to, would be honoured to. I was really humbled and as soon as Steven May asked me to do it, I was, well yeah absolutely.
“As a former Indigenous player and knowing how hard it was to get to where I’ve got to in Adelaide and AFL, that makes me proud brother, well done”
“I was really excited to be running around in 50 and Maysy obviously wore 67. So it was great to commemorate,” Lynch said.
It’s something Marngrook Footy Show co-host and former AFL player Gilbert McAdam was thrilled to hear.
“As a former Indigenous player and knowing how hard it was to get to where I’ve got to in Adelaide and AFL, that makes me proud brother, well done,” McAdam said.
The questions for Lynch on NITV on Thursday included the future of Gary Ablett, the coaching situation at the club and also the overall performance of the Suns.
“There has been a lot of talk about you fellas being underachievers so far in the club’s history in the competition,” Marngrook co-host Grant Hansen said. “Do you think that’s a fair thing to say?”
The Marngrook Footy Show talk to Tom Lynch on Thursday night. Source: The Marngrook Footy Show
“I think it’s fair,” Lynch replied. “Right now we haven’t made finals and we’ve been in for seven years now. I think that’s fair enough.
“We haven’t been playing the footy that we want to play or setting the standard we want to set.
“Every club wants to win a premiership and we haven’t been able to push up into the top eight yet. So yeah, that’s a fair statement.”
The all-star panel on Manrgook on Thursday included Kevin Bartlett, who tipped Richmond to beat GWS by 80 points in the preliminary final on Saturday, Robert Walls, Peter Daicos and Rohan Connolly.
Also joining the show was former Tiger Michael Roach, who played in Richmond’s most recent premiership, 37 years ago, a game in which Bartlett was awarded the Norm Smith Medal for kicking seven goals.
Steve Johnson is 'good to go' for Greater Western Sydney's AFL preliminary final against Richmond. (AAP) Source: AAP
Connolly’s regular segment Rounds of Our Lives looked at some of the most memorable preliminary finals in AFL / VFL history.
The five games featured were the 1993 preliminary final and Essendon’s comeback win over Adelaide.
Sydney’s win over Essendon in 1996 after Tony Lockett kicked a behind at the SCG.
Carlton’s win over Essendon in 1999, with Lance Whitnall kicking a long goal to give the Blues the edge
Adelaide’s comeback win over Footscray Bulldogs in 1997, with Tony Liberatore’s famous behind and more famous celebration and Darren Jarman’s big day out up forward.
And in the number one spot, the 1994 prelim between Geelong and North Melbourne, which Connolly was most glowing about.
“If you could only choose one game of football to watch again and again for the rest of your life, this would be my pick,” Connolly said.
Former Geelong forward and current North Melbourne assistant coach Leigh Tudor joined the panel to review the game, which he played in for the victorious Cats.
Shelley Ware also joined the show for a wrap of some grand final news, as well as a look at the goal and mark of the year contenders, including Eddie Betts, Lance Buddy Franklin and Daniel Rioli for goal of the year.
For mark of the year Joe Daniher, Brodie Grundy and Jeremy Howe are the nominees.
For more football news and to be a part of the conversation, head to The Marngrook Footy Show’s Facebook and Twitter pages, or watch Thursday’s episode in full catch up service.
