Brisbane Lions legend Jonathan Brown has boldly declared Gold Coast SUNS spearhead Tom Lynch is currently the best player in the AFL.

Lynch has emerged as one of the competition’s premier forwards in 2016, leading the league in contested marks and booting 57 goals from 18 games to sit third in the Coleman Medal race.

“Tom Lynch is the best player in the game,” Brown said on Fox Sports’ On The Couch.

“He’s better than Paddy Dangerfield at the moment. Dangerfield has been sensational, we’re not knocking guys down.

“Tom Lynch has been unbelievable and he is now the best player in the competition.”

Given Gold Coast have won just six games for the season and are in the bottom half for points scored in 2016, Brown predicts the SUNS vice-captain has the potential to reach even loftier heights.

“If he was playing for Hawthorn, GWS, Geelong or Adelaide, he would have kicked 80 goals this season,” Brown said.

“He leads the contested marks and he’s one of the most dominant contested markers I have seen — and I’ve seen Wayne Carey at his best.

“He runs about 15kms a game, he goes up and down the field and plays true centre half forward. He’s been in a very ordinary team all year with a lack of supply and inside 50s.”