By Michael Whiting
One positive Gold Coast SUNS took from Sunday's 92-point loss against St Kilda was unearthing teenager Tom Lynch as a defender.
Lynch, 19, started the game at Etihad Stadium in his customary key forward post, but with the GC SUNS defence struggling, he was sent back.
Saints captain Nick Riewoldt had two first quarter goals against Matthew Warnock, but Lynch managed to keep him to just two more for the remaining three quarters.
It was a noteworthy effort against one of the game's premier forwards who was getting plenty of chances from a dominant team.
Lynch, recruited from the Dandenong Stingrays, was the most impressive of Gold Coast's young key forwards last season, kicking 15 goals in 13 games.
He said going back to play on Riewoldt was an education he would lock away.
"I didn't expect to go back on him but it was an awesome experience," Lynch said.
"Hopefully there's a lot of things I can take and implement into my game and learn off him because he's a gun of the game.
"When he knew they were going to win the ball he just took off and went flat out, he wouldn't go 80 per cent. [I learnt from] his hard leads and his work back to get back to goal."
With suspended vice-captain Nathan Bock returning for Saturday's home match against Essendon, SUNS coach Guy McKenna now has an option with where to use Lynch.
Bock was sensational last year in defence but has been used in the forward line during the pre-season.
Wherever he and Bock are chosen, Lynch said he was excited to have the All Australian back.
"I think everyone's happy Bocky's back and I think he'll have a big influence and help steady us," he said.
"When he plays forward he might help free me up or the other players up because he'll probably take the best defender.
"Just his instructions out on the ground are great, a bit of experience there, it'll help us out a lot."
Lynch said Gold Coast SUNS second straight big loss to start the year was disappointing.
They have trailed by 31 and 30 points respectively at quarter-time against Adelaide and St Kilda in the opening fortnight and Lynch said most of the focus this week would go into their starts.
"After half-time we fought it out a bit but we have to work on our starts, we're getting smashed early, we have to fix that up and be even with them at quarter time in future," he said.
"The good thing about footy is there's a game next week, that's the only positive really."