It started with a bear hug from Tom Liberatore and ended with a win after the siren in his first ever AFL game; It’s been a good week for Brad Lynch.
On the rookie list for three years, and multiple hamstring injuries have made life tough at times, but the much-loved Mandurah product got his chance on the big stage on Friday night and grabbed it with both hands.
Speaking with westernbulldogs.com.au after match, the 20-year-old couldn’t hide his elation.
“That’s something I’ll obviously always remember. It’s up there with the best feeling I’ve ever had, winning the game like that, he said.
“It was unbelievable walking off and then walking into the change rooms just then and getting a Gatorade shower. You can’t get any better than that.”
18 disposals in your first game, under lights on a Friday no less, is a pretty reasonable return, but there were more than a few moments that would have endeared the debutant to the Dogs’ faithful.
His exceptional footwork off of half-back was a feature, and a pin-point pass to Josh Schache that helped the Dogs take the lead back in the second quarter highlighted how good he is off the boot.
Understandably nervous pre-game, Lynch said it was Dale Morris and Billy Gowers who helped calm him down, and he also credited development coaches Jamie Maddocks and Jordan Russell for helping get him to the moment.
“When I first walked in, Billy Gowers come up to me, he acts like a 200-game player, and he plays like it as well. He really calmed me before the game, he said.
“I was a bit nervous, I was really excited and just wanted to get out there, couldn’t wait. But he really settled me down, so did Moz… and especially my two mentors, Jamie Maddocks and Jordan Russell.”
The Dogs take on Hawthorn next Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.
