3 minute read

While key forward Tom Lynch led Richmond's scoring with four goals in their win over Hawthorn, his opponent James Sicily was outstanding.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick noted that if he'd been offered four goals for Tom Lynch before their AFL win over Hawthorn, he'd take that return.

As it turned out, so would the Hawks.

Their captain James Sicily was outstanding against Lynch on Saturday and even though the in-form Tigers spearhead still led their scoring, the key defender was the Hawks' best player.

"It was a really good match-up. I'm sure the fans appreciated it," said Hawks coach Sam Mitchell.

"They're two brilliant players aren't they?

"Lynch has been in fantastic form ... to keep him to (four goals) doesn't sound great on the stats sheet, but it could have easily been a lot more goals than that.

"'Sic' did a really good job - he's leading really well for us."

The Hawks closed to within 10 points late in the game, before losing by 23 points, and without Sicily's performance the margin probably would have been a lot greater.

"The thing with him is he's able to have an offensive output game at different stages," Mitchell said.

"Last week, they send someone to him and then this week, he goes and takes one of the best forwards in the competition - and probably the most in-form.

"He battled away ... the fans would have liked watching that one."

Hardwick also acknowledged that Sicily did not let Lynch have things his own way.

"If you had said to me 'Tom kicks four goals', I'd take that most days," he said.

"But in fairness, Sicily is a really, really good player."