Why Adelaide Crows coach Don Pyke should part ways with Mitch McGovern
ADELAIDE coach Don Pyke has a big job this off-season to rebuild Adelaide’s winning culture. His first task should be to walk anyone out the door who doesn’t want to be at the club.
- Mr Fixit Mitch McGovern is indispensable: Lynch
- ‘Where there’s smoke’: Pyke admits Gov unrest
- Power damned by a loss of faith
- Milera stands up as Crows shining light
- Pyke: There’s plenty to look forward to
- Westhoff plans for lucky 13th AFL season
ADELAIDE forward Mitch McGovern averages 11 disposals and 1.4 goals per game in his 48-game career and has missed 22 games through injury in the past two seasons.
They are hardly stats that scream: “I deserve a pay rise.”
In June reports emerged McGovern was set to break his contract and move to Melbourne-based club at the end of 2018. It was suggested he was at odds with Adelaide over the terms of the three-year contract he signed 12 months ago.
At the time Adelaide board member Mark Ricciuto hosed down the report calling it very wrong.
“I certainly haven’t heard that he’s breaking it this year, in fact his manager … knocked it on the head straight away and said it was ridiculous,” Ricciuto said.
But on Friday, Adelaide coach Don Pyke finally admitted something isn’t right with his star prospect.
“I walk around in the world like everyone else and generally where there is a smoke there is fire. I can only expect there is some information through him or management he is not happy here at times,” Pyke admitted.
Pyke should march him out the door.
There seems to be a sense of entitlement from some young AFL players believing they should be paid far more than what they are worth. They expect to be renumerated based on potential.
This selfish attitude ruins club culture and Pyke shouldn’t stand for it.
McGovern should cast his eye towards reigning premier Richmond and the case of 2018 Coleman Medal winner Jack Riewoldt.
The premiership forward recently extended his contract at the Tigers and admitted he took a pay cut to help keep the premiership-winning squad under the salary cap.
As of Sunday, Riewoldt is a three-time Coleman Medal winner and twice the player of McGovern, but obviously understands the rewards of playing in a successful side go much deeper than money.
Adelaide’s forward line can thrive without McGovern, with Darcy Fogarty ready to fill the void if he departs.
The compensation for McGovern would have Adelaide in the box seat to secure one of South Australia’s elite talent in Jack Lukosius or Izak Rankine.
Pyke has a big job this off-season to rebuild Adelaide’s winning culture.
His first task should be to walk anyone out the door who doesn’t want to be at the club.
WINNERS
1. Best and fairest?
JUSTIN Westhoff may have sealed his first John Cahill Medal with his five-goal haul against Essendon on Friday night. Westhoff will become the third Port Adelaide player to reach the 250-game milestone in round one next year. His versatility, durability and team-first attitude make him one of the Power’s finest ever players.
2. Gallucci style
ADELAIDE’S Jordan Gallucci has the speed, agility and goal sense to be a 200-game player. 2018 has been a brilliant springboard for his career.
3. SA’s best
BRODIE Grundy is the best South Australian player in the AFL and should get the nod as the All-Australian ruckman ahead of Max Gawn.
4. Big Bill
PORT Adelaide ruckman Billy Frampton showed his potential on Friday night with three contested marks inside 50. Power fans are questioning why it took until the final round of the 2018 season to get the nod at selection, especially after the injury-riddled season lead ruckman Paddy Ryder has had.
5. No Deal
ESSENDON would be patting itself on the back for holding on to its 2015 number six draft pick Aaron Francis despite the South Australian requesting a trade to Port Adelaide at the end of last year. Francis has managed only 10 games in three years but his finish to the 2018 season has shown he has the tools to be a star of the game across halfback and showed he’s got great marking skills with the hanger.
LOSERS
1. Cue in the rack
EMBARRASSING is only way to describe Port Adelaide’s first quarter on Friday night.
Essendon dominated the clearances by six, contested possessions by 10, led inside 50s by eight and most alarmingly won the tackles by nine. Despite the season being alive for the Power these numbers are evidence the players had checked out.
2. Clanger kings
KEN Hinkley has many challenges this off-season, one is to find out why his side has been one of the worst-kicking teams. On Friday night Essendon has 13 scoring shots from Port turnovers and key players Sam Powell-Pepper, Travis Boak, Ollie Wines, Jasper Pittard, Brad Ebert, Robbie Gray and Steven Motlop recorded a kicking efficiency of 50 per cent or under.
3. Dress ups
IT WILL highly embarrassing if footage emerges of Adelaide or Port Adelaide players dressed up in costumes to celebrate the 2018 season on Mad Monday, or Wacky Wednesday as it is now known. There’s nothing wrong with having a quiet beer and reflecting on the season but don’t dress up like fools.
4. Three strikes
COLLINGWOOD’S Sam Murray’s short career could be over after a positive drug test in the post script to his side’s round 19 loss to Richmond. Murray is the third Magpies’ player in three years to record a positive drug test after Lachie Keefe and Josh Thomas were suspended for two years in 2015.
5. Premature pick
THE All-Australian side was selected last week meaning the round 23 best on ground performances of Patrick Dangerfield, Brodie Grundy and Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt’s five goals can’t be considered, which is wrong.
Crows are not a ‘destination’ club for returning talent
The Crows have always failed to get local talent back home. That’s something they have to fix, writes Kane Cornes.
Shaw decision puts spotlight on AFL coaches’ support
The fine line between success and failure has never been so close and the recent decision by North Melbourne’s Rhyce Shaw to take extended leave has highlighted why coaches need more support.