2015 will be remembered as a defining year in Tom Lynch’s career. He not only cemented himself as one of the premier key forwards in the game, but also earmarked himself as the next captain of the Gold Coast SUNS. On Friday night, Lynch capped off an outstanding season by being crowned the 2015 Club Champion.
 
The 22-year-old held off the ultra-consistent Kade Kolodjashnij by just two votes in a tight finish, joining three-time best and fairest winner, Gary Ablett, and last year’s champion, David Swallow, as the only recipients in the club's short history.
 
Lynch constructed an exceptional season, booting 43.33 from 20 appearances as well as averaging 14.8 possessions and 6.7 marks per game to stamp himself as the most influential player in Rodney Eade’s side this year.
 
He produced a handful of supreme performances in the back end of the year that were the architect behind his win – Carlton (round 13), Western Bulldogs (round 15), West Coast (round 18), as well as the two crowning moments of his year, Adelaide (round 17) and Brisbane (round 19).
 
“I’m quite humbled to be able to win it. I’m quite proud of being able to win a club best and fairest,” Lynch told SUNS TV following the thrilling count.
 
“I thought Kolodjashnij (would win) - he had a super year and was really consistent, and started off well and finished strong - so I was expecting him to win it tonight.”
 
Eade’s first season at Metricon Stadium has been particularly difficult due to an array of factors. Ill discipline and past misdemeanours have cast a shadow over the year. And a never-before-seen injury toll has decimated the SUNS. It’s incomprehensible to imagine how Gold Coast would have managed without Lynch.
 
In a year where over half of the leadership group has missed large chunks of football – Gary Ablett, David Swallow and Dion Prestia – Lynch has developed into a future captain, alleviating the strain left by others and guiding the young list, both on and off the field.
 
The Victorian revealed he has made significant growth with his leadership capabilities this season, learning from elder statesmen Gary Ablett and Michael Rischitelli, and becoming more comfortable with his status as a leader inside the four walls at Metricon Stadium.
 
“I think I’ve learned a lot of Rischitelli and Gary. I felt like I’ve grown my leadership – (and) across the board I think we all have,” Lynch said.
 
“I think I’ve learnt a lot off them this year and being more comfortable with it is the main thing.
 
“I think (leadership growth) it’s typified in Kolodjashnij. He’s a second-year (player) and he’s actually quite a shy boy initially. (But) he’s really come out of himself and his demanding on game day has gone through the roof.
 
“I think he’s probably the one that typifies the group’s really. (We’ve) just had enough and want to move forward.”
 
2015 was supposed to be the year the SUNS played finals for the first time. It never appeared like happening for a variety of reasons. But during a turbulent season, Gold Coast discovered a host of soldiers who put their hands up to play a part in the club's future.
 
Despite a trying year, Lynch is confident the newfound depth unearthed in the likes of first-year sensations Touk Miller and Adam Saad, along with the progress made by Kolodjashnij, Jesse Lonergan and Aaron Hall, will provide the SUNS with exceptional depth that will be boosted by the return of their stars in 2016.
 
“We found quite a few players this year that in pre season we didn’t know that we had,” Lynch said.
 
“They stepped up and there’s been a number of guys that have come in and played their role. Once we get those guys back it will only help us.”