Jonathan Brown and Garry Lyon have lumped criticism on Tom Lynch for his performance in Richmond's 33-point victory over the North Melbourne Kangaroos on Saturday afternoon.

Lynch only provided six disposals in the contest, recording just one mark and no scores despite his team's success.

The victory keeps the Tigers in with a shot at making the top eight, the club sitting ninth with just two games to play.

RELATED: Richmond vs North Melbourne match centre

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has come out swinging to defend his key forward Lynch however, despite the performance.

Richmond Tigers Training Session
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 20: Tom Lynch is seen during a Richmond Tigers AFL training session at Metricon Stadium on August 20, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

โ€œWe get our key forwards to play in a specific way and itโ€™s to bring the ball to ground,โ€ he said.

โ€œIf heโ€™s getting out-marked I wonโ€™t be happy, but the fact of the matter is he plays his role.

โ€œTomโ€™s a two-time premiership player. Enough said.

โ€œBrownyโ€™s capable of putting his hand up to coach at some stage. If he wants to coach โ€“ by all means, put your hand up.

โ€œSeriously, give me his job. Letโ€™s swap for a week.โ€

โ€œActually, what I will say is itโ€™s very easy in the cheap seats. Tomโ€™s often outnumbered. I think he doesnโ€™t get treated fairly at various stages.

Richmond are only two points behind the eighth-placed Greater Western Sydney Giants, meaning next weekend's 2019 grand final rematch between the sides will be critical, with the loser likely out of the finals race.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Marlion Pickett of the Tigers clears the bnall during the 2019 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Richmond Tigers and the GWS Giants at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 28, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

That becomes even more so the case when you consider the Fremantle Dockers and St Kilda Saints are also both two points behind the Giants, although both have tough games next week before playing each other in Round 23.