[17] The very next week Lynch suffered a significant posterior cruciate ligament knee injury when colliding with Essendon's Jake Melksham in the second quarter of the Suns' round 12 loss.

[20][13][21] Before the beginning of the 2014 season Lynch was appointed co-vice captain of the Suns, as part of a newly expanded five-man vice captaincy group.

[13] For his breakout season Lynch placed second in the club's best and fairest count, just seven points shy of David Swallow's winning tally of 240.

[33] After missing the opening round due to a suspension, Lynch's 2015 season began in earnest with a loss to St Kilda in which he kicked a team-best three goals.

[45] He was also awarded the club's best and fairest honour, finishing narrowly above defender Kade Kolodjashnij thanks in particular to his strong form in the final two months of the season.

[56][57] By his own lofty standards, Lynch had a reduced output in the following month, next kicking four goals while also posting a new career high with seven marks inside-50 in a round 12 match against Richmond.

[62] In round 20, Lynch kicked four goals to bring himself to equal leading position in the Coleman Medal race with three-time winner Lance Franklin.

[64] At season's end he would receive his second successive Gold Coast Suns Club Champion award and was named to the All-Australian team in the forward pocket position.

[67] In December 2016, Lynch was appointed co-captain of the Suns alongside defender Steven May after the pair shared the role in the injury absence of veteran Gary Ablett late in the 2016 season.

[72][13] He added a total of eight goals over the next three weeks before going goalless when the Suns traveled to Shanghai to play Port Adelaide in the first regular season AFL match in Asia.

[81] Reports over that period claimed he would receive a seven-year contract offer from Gold Coast worth $10 million and that had already knocked back early approaches from clubs including Collingwood, Hawthorn and Richmond.

[85] Over the period he engaged in a near-complete pre-season training schedule, while continuing reports indicated he would delay a decision on his future until at least mid-season and depending on the early performances of the Suns that season.

[86][87][88] Despite the speculation regarding his future Lynch would continue as co-captain in 2018, leading the club to consecutive wins to open the season, including setting a new career-high with eight goals against Carlton in round 2.

[97][98] They were to be his last matches of the season however, after continuing knee soreness led to club doctors recommending Lynch undergo PCL surgery to fully repair the lingering effects of the previous years' injury.

[99][100] Meanwhile, media speculation continued over Lynch's contractual future, with reports claiming Hawthorn, Richmond and Collingwood remained front runners to sign him.

[102][103] In early August Lynch informed Suns players, coaches and front office staff of his intention to leave the Gold Coast and sign a free agent contract with a Melbourne-based club at the end of the season.

[104] He was reportedly met with strong criticism by teammates upon the announcement and was subsequently stripped of his captaincy by the club and stood down from all duties other than those that concerned his continuing knee injury rehabilitation.

[108][109][110] Within a week of the season's end, Lynch confirmed he would sign with Richmond, accepting what was reported to be a seven-year deal worth $6.5 million, heavily backloaded and beginning with around $500,000 in its first year.

[113] Lynch joined the Richmond Tigers at the age of 27 who opted to receive a first-round compensation draft pick rather than match his new contract offer or attempt to force a trade.

[120][121][122][123] Despite the short lead-in, Lynch would be selected to make his Richmond debut in round 1's season-opening match against Carlton, where he kicked three goals including the first of the season.

[131] Richmond coach Damien Hardwick rebuked those comments however, claiming Lynch was performing well given his injury status and suggesting a return to his best form was yet to come.

[138] Lynch begun a full load of mid-week training sessions for the first time at Richmond following the bye, and showed an immediate uplift in scoring with three goals in each of his next two matches.

[165][166] Lynch went goalless in a round 1 win over Carlton when the season began a fortnight later under extraordinary conditions imposed on the league as a result of the rapid progression of the coronavirus pandemic into Australia.

[184][185][13] Lynch added another three goals in round 10's win over the Brisbane Lions, but also attracted a misconduct fine from the AFL Match Review Officer after pushing opposition defender Alex Witherden in the head.

He received a $1,000 fine for each incident, including an off-ball strike to the stomach of defender Sam Collins that was the subject of intense media scrutiny.

[189][190][191][192] Scrutiny on Lynch hit a peak one week later, after he was sent directly to the AFL Tribunal for allegedly striking Essendon's Michael Hurley in the neck during the round 13 Dreamtime in Darwin game.

[199][200][201] The injury saw him unable to play in the final match of the regular season and ensured he could not improve his goalkicking tally, ultimately securing equal-sixth place in the Coleman Medal race.

[202][203] Despite making a return to light training and having last played a full three weeks prior, Lynch was also ruled out from participating in the club's qualifying final against the Brisbane Lions.

[204][205][206] He played a starring role in his return, adding 17 disposals, six marks and two goals (from seven scoring shots), earning five coaches votes as second best on ground and helping his side to a semi-final win over St Kilda.

[207][208][209] Lynch attracted yet another AFL sanction during the match, charged with misconduct and accepting a $750 fine for kneeing the shoulder of opposition defender Dougal Howard.