GOLD Coast coach Stuart Dew says he has no problems with Collingwood counterpart Nathan Buckley meeting with restricted free agent Tom Lynch.

Speaking on Wednesday, Dew said it was a "reality of AFL" that opposing clubs would speak to free agents during the season.

"That's the current environment we're in so we certainly knew that time would come," Dew said.

"We understand he's got a decision to make. Clubs and players need to be well informed, so we're not naive to think these things don't go on."

Speaking on Channel Nine's Footy Classified on Monday night, Buckley said he spoke to Lynch "a while back".

"Tom Lynch is a player that I can see fitting into our structure really well and making us a better team, so if that’s an indication of our interest in him, well then so be it," Buckley said.

When asked whether he was disappointed in Lynch – Gold Coast's co-captain – for talking with rivals in-season, Dew played it straight.

"You hear about some and you don't hear about others," he said.

"Obviously this is high profile but the free agency situation in the AFL, which isn't going away and that's a reality, we're accustomed to the fact meetings will take place.

"Sometimes that's with managers, sometimes with players depending on where players are at in their careers. That's the world we live in."

Lynch is currently in Melbourne following surgery to his injured knee.

"I've spoken with Tom," Dew said.

"We've had ongoing chats, particularly after his knee operation to see how he's going.

"We expect he should get the all-clear in the next week or so, we're hopeful, to travel again and come back to the coast."