Tom Lynch’s brilliant 2015 campaign had it all. Big marks, clutch goals and an elevated standing as a leader - someone with captaincy written all over him.
 
In a year where wins were hard to conjure, and impacting the scoreboard was equally as challenging (Gold Coast ranked 14th for points for with 74.2 points per game), Lynch emerged as a potent centre half forward, capable of hitting the scoreboard and doing damage further up the ground.
 
The 22-year-old booted 43.33 from 20 appearances to lead the Gold Coast SUNS goal-kicking tally for the second consecutive campaign, narrowly eclipsing departing spearhead Charlie Dixon who kicked 41 for the year.
 
With Gold Coast’s four best midfielders – Gary Ablett, David Swallow, Dion Prestia and Jaeger O’Meara – missing large chunks of football, life as a forward was far from easy at Carrara this season, making Lynch’s feats even more impressive.
 
Delivery inside 50 wasn’t ideal at different times, nor was the amount of opportunities as indicated by a whopping inside 50 differential in 2015 of -12.0 per game – ranked 18th in the competition.
 
After missing round one due to a suspension from last year, Lynch booted two hauls of three in his first two games of the year against St Kilda and then Geelong, before kicking another trifecta in round five’s QClash9.
 
A dominant four-goal haul against Carlton straight after the bye was the start of a brilliant second-half of the season that saw the Victorian entrench himself amid the premier key forwards in the game.
 
Lynch booted 19 goals in a five-game stretch between rounds 17 and 21, that included best on ground performances against Adelaide (four goals and 21 possessions) and Brisbane (five goals and 18 possessions).
 
Given the state of Queensland football in 2015, the performances of several figures inside Metricon Stadium have drawn less credit than they deserve. Lynch is one of those players that hasn’t quite earned the plaudits his football demands. His performances, particularly during that stretch, clearly stamped his name as one of the best leading forwards in the game.
 
Unlike West Coast’s Josh Kennedy and Greater Western Sydney’s Jeremy Cameron, Lynch does the bulk of his damage outside forward 50. He gets up the ground, providing a strong marking option on transition, as well as going behind the ball with effect when required.
 
After following up his breakout 2014 campaign with an even better year, Lynch has laid a platform to launch himself into All Australian contention in the years ahead. But it mustn’t ben forgotten; goals are only one part of his game.