For most AFL players, the NAB Challenge matches are a terrific opportunity to regain form and touch leading into the regular season. 

But for Tom Lynch, this month’s pre-season matches holds extra importance, after a posterior cruciate ligament injury cost him the final 10 games of the 2013 Season.  

“It is definitely important for me. When I first did the injury at the start of the pre-season (in 2013) it was a long haul for me to get the body right.

“But my aim was to be back running on the first day of pre-season and I managed to do that, so hopefully I will have a bit of luck this pre-season and play a few games,” Lynch said.

Like Lynch, a number of Gold Coast players stepped up their intensity at Friday’s main training session, using the usually light skills hit-out as a final opportunity to impress coaching staff and win NAB Challenge selection for the side’s pre-season showdown against Essendon this Monday night. 

For just over two hours, the senior squad sharpened their skills and refined their offensive and defensive structures that will underpin their 2014 hopes of climbing up the Premiership ladder. 

After months of arduous pre-season training, newly-appointed vice captain Lynch said the players were ready to test themselves against legitimate finals contenders in the Bombers.  

“We certainly can’t wait til footy comes. The boys have been itching to play Monday night and we have been playing intra-clubs but there is nothing like playing against quality oppositions.”

From the very start of his AFL career, Lynch’s ability to cover the ground through his excellent aerobic capacity has made him of the most difficult match-ups in the open space.

But physically the hulking forward felt as though he was lacking, and throughout the summer sought to add more muscle to his 199cm, 101kg frame.

Bigger, faster, stronger, Lynch is on track for a steady comeback at centre half forward.

“Yeah, I definitely feel like I have had a pre-season. I have put on a couple of kilos and feel like physically I am ready to match it against those key defenders.

“So hopefully I can get some games in and find a bit of form.”