THE FIRST step towards making Tom Lynch a Tiger has been taken with Richmond officially lodging a contract offer that will make him a million-dollar man.

The Tigers wasted no time in submitting a deal reported to be for six years and worth $6 million when the NAB AFL Free Agency period officially opened on Friday.

After declaring he was set to leave Gold Coast at the start of August, Lynch confirmed football's worst-kept secret on Tuesday when he named Richmond as his preferred destination.

Collingwood and Hawthorn were the other clubs in the running to secure the Victorian's services, with Magpies coach Nathan Buckley even admitting mid-season he had met with the 25-year-old "a while back".

However it was the lure of playing finals, lining up next to Jack Riewoldt, and his friendships with former Suns Dion Prestia and Josh Caddy that played a part in his decision to head to Punt Road.

Lynch is a restricted free agent, meaning the Suns will now have three days match the offer.

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It is believed they will assess the scope of the deal to determine if they can bring in another free agent – having been linked to Geelong's George Horlin-Smith – without affecting the value of their AFL-awarded compensation.

The Suns are expected to net pick No.3 overall in this year's NAB AFL Draft for losing Lynch to the Tigers.

More to come