A fortnight ago, the prospect of stopping a Hawthorn and Sydney arsenal in successive weeks was an imposing proposition. With Hawthorn boasting Jarryd Roughead and Jack Gunston in their keys and the Swans forward 50 anchored by Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett, it was going to be a tough assignment to limit opposition scoreboard impact.
 
One man that has played a big role in nullifying opposition attacks is Tom Lynch. Last year’s leading goal kicker at the club has been sent down back by Rodney Eade in the last couple of weeks and the results have spoken for themselves. With Rory Thompson and Nick Malceski still absent, Lynch has supported Steven May, sitting in the hole and intercepting opposition ball.
 
Call it damage control or a form of scoreboard management, or call it whatever you like. It has been an effective ploy that could pay dividends down the track for Lynch in terms of development when there is a clean bill of health inside Metricon Stadium. And it has been particularly influential in recent weeks with the SUNS defensive group keeping the Hawks and Swans key forwards at bay.
 
“Rocket’s thrown me back the last couple of weeks. I played down there a couple of seasons ago so I’ve played down there a little bit,” Lynch told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday morning.
 
“It’s always a good challenge to change positions and try and add versatility to your game. I’m enjoying the challenge going back and trying to help out the defence.
 
“Obviously going down there and playing on the good forwards in the competition you can learn plenty off them and you can sort of understand what defenders are thinking when you’re leading so I think it definitely helps.
 
“Also just adding versatility - if I’m not getting a kick up forward I can always go back and hopefully get a kick down there.”

Watch as SUNS TV goes inside the rooms when debutant Peter Wright is presented with his first guernsey
 
With Charlie Dixon serving a one-game club imposed suspension for breaching club standards and Lynch spending large chunks of the night down back, it was a tough stage to debut on for prized draftee Peter Wright.
 
Despite the difficult circumstances, Lynch said the young key forward can take some confidence out of his first up performance and his life will become easier with more adequate support around him. Support in the form of Dixon who should return to the senior side this weekend to face Fremantle.
 
“We knew it was going to be a tough ask for him against Ted Richards and Heath Grundy – they’ve been around a long time and they’re great players. Especially when I went back and he was up against a spare, so that didn’t help him,” Lynch said.
 
“We thought he competed really well and did everything we asked. He set up for the down the line option. He was great.
 
“He can get a bit of confidence out of it and know he can do it. It will be a lot easier for him with ‘Dicko’ there and if I’m in the forward line for him.”