GOALLESS and criticised one week, eight goals the next.
Gold Coast co-captain Tom Lynch, arguably the game's most sought after free agent-to-be, continues to be a lightning rod for headlines.
The 25-year-old's lack of animation after the Suns' round one defeat of North Melbourne had legendary journalist Mike Sheahan questioning him, but he responded in the best way possible.
Lynch accompanied his personal-best haul with two goal assists and had 13 score involvements in total to inspire Gold Coast to a 34-point triumph at Etihad Stadium.
It was a tremendous result given Liam Jones, again his opponent on Saturday, kept him to one behind in round 13 last year after Lynch managed seven goals in the clubs' round four clash.
Not that rookie Suns coach Stuart Dew was ever concerned about the 2016 All Australian, joking "the zoom was pretty tight last week, wasn't it?".
"Really impressive," Dew said of Lynch.
"We were just as happy last week – I don't think he kicked a goal last week – but his pressure (was good) and he brought others into the game.
"This week, he gets his turn and kicks 8.1 – I think it's his best – but he was a really strong presence in the forward line and led from the front … it's hard for the others not to follow."
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Lynch was at pains to play down his goalkicking achievement, although a smile broke out on his face when asked whether he gave any thought at half time to kicking 10 goals.
He already had six to that stage and finished with eight, to go with 21 disposals (10 contested), four marks and four tackles.
"Obviously, it's good coming in at half time, kicking a few and getting on the end of it," Lynch said.
"My personal best was seven, so it was good to beat that.
"It was nice to get on a dry deck; obviously last week was a bit different conditions.
"The boys were super today. They challenged us really hard, so it was good we responded throughout that second and third quarter."
Lynch was thrilled to have a fit Sam Day, in his 100th match, playing alongside him in attack and hailed Dew's impact since arriving in October.
"(Dew)'s been great since he got here," Lynch said.
"He's really built the relationships early and I was saying the other day, it feels like he's been here a long time already.
"He's tinkered with the game plan and wanting to play more direct, but across the board, he's really made it a family club."
