Adelaide has made the call to move on from Tom Lynch, but what does the future hold for the veteran forward?
The former Crows leading goal kicker was informed on Tuesday that he would not be offered a new deal as the club committed to its rebuild.
Kane Cornes is confident that Lynch can play a role at AFL level in 2022 and expects both contenders and young sides looking for leaders to make the call.
“Is Tom Lynch in the best 800 players in the country? Absolutely. Is Tom Lynch in the best 400 players in the country? Yes he is,” Cornes told SEN SA Breakfast.
“There’s one of two ways. You could go to a club that’s in the mix and I think he’ll have those options, or he can go to a club that needs what Adelaide needs ironically and that is another forward, North Melbourne, he’d be a great mentor, two-year deal, not going to cost you much, he can transition to a coaching role, Gold Coast is the same.
“They’re looking for players of that ilk, so I think there will be options for him.”
Cornes praised Adelaide for sticking staunchly to their plan, but wonders what it means for other veterans on their list.
“I wouldn’t have done it, but at least they have the courage of conviction to make some really difficult calls on good players and good people,” the Power great added.
“So how far does it extend to? Daniel Talia? You couldn’t make a case on the back of Tom Lynch that Talia gets offered a contract, you couldn’t.
“You’ve got Jordon Butts, you’ve got Nick Murray, you’ve got Fischer McAsey, so for all the reasons (Adelaide CEO) Tim Silvers said about Tom Lynch, there’s no way Talia plays there next year.
“There’s examples right in front of us of how you go about a successful rebuild and I think Fremantle are on that track.
“All your priorities into the draft, get as many top 10 picks as you can, but support them with Nathan Fyfe, David Mundy who’s 36, support it with Michael Walters, you can’t all go young.
“Sydney, how quickly have they rebuilt? That’s because you’ve got Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker and you’ve got Lance Franklin and the other experience around them.
“Going all or nothing, I don’t think works.
“If I’m doing it, keep the great people and great leaders and players who can play a role next year and help mentor.
“That’s why Daniel Talia should get a spot. He’s in their best 22 still.
“That’s why Rory Sloane gets a spot. On Rory Sloane’s performance, if he wasn’t contracted and wasn’t captain, you’d have to sever ties with him.
“He’s 32, really struggling out there on the field. The only real reason that Rory will be on the list, and he’s in the same category as Tom Lynch, is because he’s contracted.
“That’s the only reason. You’ve got to be consistent when you make brutal calls like this, but as I’ll say again, well done to them, they’re going to live or die by this and Justin Reid, he’s had a few lives, this will be the making of him and how quickly he can rebuild this list.”
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