Richmond veteran Tom Lynch looks set to play on in 2027 — but he shouldn’t.

At least not according to Kane Cornes and Nick Riewoldt, who agree the key forward is “unplayable” at the moment.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Tom Lynch’s future under the microscope

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Lynch has provided a vital experienced head for his young Tigers teammates in what has been another tough year at Punt Road.

But the injury-prone 33-year-old has continued to battle problems with his body and has kicked just 16 goals from 13 games this year.

In Richmond’s narrow loss to Adelaide on Saturday, Lynch kicked 0.3 from eight disposals and took just two marks.

On Monday night, 7NEWS Melbourne’s chief footy reporter Mitch Cleary revealed Lynch and Richmond have a verbal commitment to play on next year into a 17th season”.

“Finer details on new contract still to be worked through but he will be a Tiger in 2027,” Cleary added.

Cornes was baffled at that, saying the writing was already on the wall last year — let alone this year and even next.

Tom Lynch looks set to play on for a 17th AFL season. Credit: AAP

“I was watching him and look, I said this last year, I didn’t think it was the right thing for him to go on because he just looked aggressive and angry and frustrated last year,” Cornes told The Agenda Setters on Monday night.

“So he really is unplayable in his current state.

“Now, Mitch Cleary is reporting tonight that they’ve come to an agreement and he is going to play on into his 17th season.

“Sometimes you just have to make a hard call on a player, which it appears that either Taylor Walker was intelligent enough to make that call himself or Adelaide gave him a little nudge, I’m not sure.”

The Tigers have invested in young talls Harry Armstrong and Jonty Faull with high draft picks, while Liam Fawcett and Tom Sims have also had some AFL exposure early in their careers.

Riewoldt agreed that now would be a good time for Lynch to hand the keys over to those youngsters.

“Yeah, I agree with that. I think it’s time,” he said.

“I think Tom Lynch has been a wonderful servant for the football club, I think he’s probably played the bridging role with those younger key forwards, but it’s time to hand it over.”