Young gun forward Mitch McGovern ignored go-home overture with Fremantle to stay with Adelaide Crows

UPDATED: ADELAIDE has won the battle to keep young forward Mitch McGovern who turned his back on big offers in WA while Port has re-signed Sam Gray and Jasper Pittard.

Young gun Mitch McGovern has put his hand up to be a major part of the Crows’ future, signing for three years. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

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CROWS forward Mitch McGovern will stay with the Adelaide Football Club - until at least the end of the 2020 AFL season.

McGovern, 22, has turned his back on a go-home deal with Fremantle that had reportedly offered the versatile forward a five-year deal worth $3.75 million.

McGovern’s three-year extension is at inferior terms to those offered by the Dockers, but assure the forward the prospect of greater on-field success as Adelaide builds an ultra-competitive team at West Lakes.

McGovern’s decision to stay with Adelaide is an enormous boost for the Crows as they enter their third consecutive AFL final series next month.

Adelaide’s next major signing objective is young defender Jake Lever. The All-Australian nominee has significant offers from Victorian-based AFL clubs, in particular Melbourne.

McGovern, who has made an impressive start to his 35-game AFL career, insists Adelaide is the best place to advance his football career.

“I love the playing group I’m playing with, but also the staff and everyone involved,” McGovern said in a statement.

“The culture is fantastic here. It’s one of the best-run clubs that I can see and I’m glad to be a part of it.

“I’m pretty excited for the future ahead.”

McGovern brothers Mitch, who is staying with the Crows, and Jeremy who is at the Eagles. Picture: Sarah Reed

McGovern confirmed he had “quite a few options” to consider, the most notable being the go-home options at Fremantle and West Coast where his older brother Jeremy is an established Eagle.

“There were quite a few options available,” McGovern said.

“Considering other options was pretty difficult.

“Obviously, there was the go-home (lure) ... but I think this (Adelaide) is the best for my career going forward.”

McGovern joined Adelaide as a third-round pick (No. 43) in the 2014 AFL national draft. He made his AFL debut last season, after a difficult start at West Lakes because of a knee injury.

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