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GOLD COAST'S performances during the first half of 2018 could be the difference between Tom Lynch re-committing, or being the latest big name to walk out on the club.
Suns co-captain Lynch is out of contract at the end of next season and will have opposition sides lining up to lure him away from Queensland while he remains undecided on his future.
There has even been some speculation the 24-year-old could be prised from Gold Coast, who are still without a senior coach, during this year's NAB AFL Trade Period.
The club's off-field culture has long been a problem and a host of young stars such as Dion Prestia, Jaeger O'Meara, Josh Caddy, Harley Bennell and Charlie Dixon have been lost for differing reasons over the past few seasons.
The Suns finished 17th in 2017 and won just six games.
Speaking on NAB AFL Trade Radio on Wednesday, Lynch’s manager Robbie D’Orazio guaranteed the Suns skipper would be at the club for 2018, but said his player would take time to make sure Gold Coast had some prospect of success before signing a new deal.
"Tom is a competitive beast and wants to win games of football, and obviously win premierships," he said.
"He'll step back and take a look at the new coach, the assistants, and also look at what sort of player they go for in the draft, and they have pick two this year.
"Without putting a time frame on it, I'm sure by midway through next year, if they're 0-11 but they're competing, that might be OK.
"But if they're 0-11 and getting smashed then we'll wait and see."
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