Gold Coast’s Tom Lynch is confident the side’s tall forward setup can stretch Fremantle’s backline when the teams meet at Patersons Stadium this Saturday.
The Dockers boast the toughest defensive division in the AFL and kept top eight fancy Collingwood to just 46 points in arguably the most impressive performance of any team in the opening round.
In 2013, Freo conceded just 69 points per game throughout the home and away season, which was the third lowest total over the past 15 years in the AFL.
But Lynch says the Queenslanders won’t be pushing the panic button in the lead-up to their clash in the west. Instead, he and fellow key forwards Sam Day and Charlie Dixon will relish the chance to use the extra space afforded in Perth.
“It’s a great challenge and they are the best defensive side in the comp and play their ground well, but we’re looking forward to the challenge,” Lynch told The Gold Coast Bulletin.
“I think we’re ready and it’s always a challenge to come up against the best and it shows you where you’re at.
“Hopefully we can stretch them with the three talls and if we don’t mark it then hopefully (Brandon) Matera and (Aaron) Hall and those boys will be able to mop it up.”
Anchored by 2013 All- Australian Michael Johnson and veteran defender Luke McPharlin, Ross Lyon’s back-six has every reason to walk a little taller.
But a more settled forward line has the GC SUNS in high spirits this season, with the triumvirate of Lynch, Day and Dixon getting the chance to show how dangerous they can be when fit and in-form.
“We think it’s hard to cover us if we’re all up and running,” Lynch said.
“But we’re not getting carried away. We’ve still got a long way to go from where we want to be.
“But it was encouraging that it worked well for the first time.”
In addition to matching the Dockers’ expected manic ball pressure, Lynch says efficiency with the Sherrin will be crucial to the side’s chances of walking off Patersons Stadium with back-to-back victories to start the campaign.
“The key is to make sure we are kicking the ball and making good decisions with the ball in hand.
“That’s the key to getting through them. And when we go quick, we will go quick and try to get it over their zone.
“We all love playing against the best and though we haven’t won there, we seem to have gone OK to date.”
