Richmond coach Adem Yze has backed spearhead Tom Lynch to overcome the yips following a second wayward outing against Carlton this year.
After kicking 2.7 in the Tigers’ four-point defeat to the Blues in round one, Lynch’s radar was again off in another thrilling finish on Saturday night.
The dual premiership hero sprayed his first set shot of the game, then kicked his two other opportunities on goal out on the full, stranding him on 499 career goals.
Carlton’s two-point win was Lynch’s first match since Richmond’s Dreamtime match six weeks ago after he suffered a fractured larynx.
Yze described it as “bloody good” to have Lynch back and had nothing but praise for the 33-year-old.
“It was really blustery in that third quarter, Armageddon hit and it was swirling around,” he said.
“He (Lynch) had a shocker earlier in the year, and then he worked on it.
“He’s one of our most diligent players out on the track, he’ll stay out there, he’ll be last to leave.
“When you get an opportunity, that’s the main thing, he’ll work on the execution and the polish now that he’s back out there.”
Midfielder Jack Ross was ruled out in the second quarter with a concussion – his second in a month – in another casualty for the Tigers who have endured a lengthy injury list in all of Yze’s three seasons in charge.
“It was such a courageous thing for him to do, it was pure leadership,” Yze said of Ross, whose head collided with Carlton defender Lachie Cowan during a fierce tackle.
“I spoke to him about it after the game, he obviously can’t remember a lot about it, but he just needed to make a statement for our team.
“He’s walking around … we’re going to miss him because he’s a heart and soul player that you really want out there.”
