Wantaway Crow Mitch McGovern likely to ask for trade to Carlton
WANTAWAY Crow Mitch McGovern will announce the club he wants to be traded to next week, with Carlton the overwhelming favourite.
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WANTAWAY Crow Mitch McGovern will announce the club he wants to be traded to next week, with Carlton the overwhelming favourite.
McGovern’s manager Colin Young on Wednesday confirmed the Blues were leading the chase for the 23-year-old but that three other clubs had inquired about him — one from Victoria and WA clubs West Coast and Fremantle.
Young revealed that Sandgroper McGovern was in talks with the same four clubs late last season before signing a three-year contract extension with Adelaide.
But now the unhappy key forward wants out with two years left on his deal, which has given the Crows great bargaining power.
“We are fortunate enough that 12 months ago Mitchell was thinking about leaving so we talked to some clubs,’’ Young told AFL Trade Radio.
“So we're basically picking up the ball from 12 months ago and talking to those same four clubs. He met with four coaches last year.
“Clearly Carlton is one of those clubs we’re talking to — it is going through the process of looking at a trade — but the second (Melbourne) club, out of respect, I won’t discuss.
“He hasn’t had a medical so we haven’t got a contract (offer) across the line yet but by this time next week we will be able to give the media and clubs an answer.
“Justin Reid (Adelaide list manager) is pretty comfortable with all that and we’ll touch base next week and hopefully work together on getting the right trade.
“We have had very honest conversations that suggest the trade will be done and he’s waiting for calls to come through to try to get a good deal for the Adelaide Crows, just like we did last year with Charlie Cameron (who was traded to Brisbane).’’
Young said while McGovern re-signed with the Crows last year he became increasingly unhappy about the club’s “direction’’ this season, leading to his trade request.
“Twelve months ago when Mitchell signed he obviously had belief in where he thought the club was going over the journey,’’ he said.
“During the 12 months since he signed, the club’s been on a bit of a rollercoaster and Mitch has been having meetings with the club regularly on where he thought the club was going.
“To Don’s (coach Don Pyke) credit at the end of the season they had a fairly lengthy meeting and both agreed Mitch was probably not the fit for the Crows.’’
McGovern, who missed last year’s grand final loss to Richmond with a hamstring injury, is currently in Perth recovering from post-season ankle surgery.
Young said he could not “put a number’’ on what draft pick Adelaide wanted for McGovern.
But he reaffirmed the Crows’ desire to try to boost its draft pick arsenal to put itself into a position to trade up for celebrated young guns Jack Lukosius from the Eagles to Izak Rankine from West Adelaide.
“To say what he (McGovern) is worth will be dictated by Carlton or other clubs but it’s been well written that Adelaide is trying to get one of those top players in Adelaide, whether it’s Rankine or Lukosius,’’ he said.
Young, meanwhile, confirmed that Port Adelaide is in the running to sign West Coast restricted free agent Scott Lycett but that the ruckman will not make a decision in his future until after the Eagles have finished their finals campaign.
andrew.capel@news.com.au