Trade HQ: Fremantle will offer Jeremy McGovern $1 million, brother Mitch also on radar

THE trade tea leaves suggest Jeremy McGovern will be in purple next year, and his brother Mitch is also on the Dockers’ radar. Who will be coming and going at Freo this off-season?

Jeremy McGovern of the Eagles reaches for the ball.

FREMANTLE nailed last season’s national draft when they embarrassed the Gold Coast Suns regarding the Lachie Weller deal and then added a cherry on top with the Nathan Wilson trade.

The club has introduced a staggering seven debutants this year, who have taken the Dockers from a blue to white-collar team.

The Dockers are ready to launch back up the AFL table and have again become a force at home.

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Andrew Brayshaw and Adam Cerra have adapted immediately to AFL football. Bailey Banfield, Mitchell Crowden and even rookie Stefan Giro look promising as this list is starting to appear deeper than any of Ross Lyon’s other years.

It’s time to move on ageing club greats in the correct fashion. Michael Johnson, Danyle Pearce, Lee Spurr and possibly Hayden Ballantyne.

“Ross the Rebuilder” has set the foundation but now must cash in on the Nathan Fyfe era. It’s time to shop for some game-changers.

Jeremy McGovern is the big fish attracting all the external conversation but there will be others. Don’t be surprised by Rory Lobb’s magnet coming on board as the Giants are maxing out on salary cap space.

Expect the Dockers to be very active this off-season.

Jeremy McGovern would be the perfect pickup for the Dockers. Picture: Getty Images

SAM LANDSBERGER RATES FREMANTLE’S TRADE OPTIONS

IN PLAY

1. TOM SHERIDAN

Age: 24

Games in 2018: 5

The brilliant runner from Riddells Creek was a regular under Ross Lyon in 2015-16 but has seemingly since slipped back in the pack. Sheridan is out of contract but one year shy of free agency.

2. HAYDEN BALLANTYNE

Age: 30

Games in 2018: 12

Ballantyne seemed certain to be traded to West Coast a couple of years ago and it only fell over because of salary cap concerns. Now he is an unrestricted free agent and he was recently dropped to the WAFL.

3. ADAM CERRA

Age: 18

Games in 2018: 12

Calm down, Docker fans — this would be 100-1. But until last year’s No. 5 draft pick re-signs there will be a flicker of concern at Fremantle. The Eastern Ranges kid looks a midfield star and recently became the youngest player to receive all 10 coach’s votes in a game. But he has had a contract offer in front of him for some time and there is precedent for high draft picks leaving … Tom Boyd did after only 12 months.

Will Hayden Ballantyne finish his career at the Dockers? Picture: Michael Klein

BUY BUY BUY

1. JEREMY McGOVERN

Age: 26

Club: West Coast

Games in 2018: 12

McGovern is No. 1 on Fremantle’s wish list and the tea leaves suggest he is a big chance to pull on the purple in 2019. The Dockers have tracked McGovern for some time and are happy to pay him the million dollars he wants. Boy, wouldn’t that defection ignite the rivalry for next year’s derby?

2. MITCH McGOVERN

Age: 23

Club: Adelaide

Games in 2018: 8

For a lot of last season the Dockers thought they had Mitch and this time last year it was a mutual feeling. Ultimately, McGovern knocked back Freo’s offer of nearly $4 million over five years to remain at Adelaide as the Crows charged towards a promising finals campaign. Have the goalposts moved enough to request a trade under contract?

3. MITCH WALLIS

Age: 25

Club: Western Bulldogs

Games in 2018: 9

Wallis appears disgruntled at the Dogs but as club great Brad Johnson noted the inside midfielder is an A-grade citizen. Wallis would add midfield support around the likes of Fyfe, Brayshaw and Cerra while he has also been used forward this year and the Dockers will soon be planning for life after Ballantyne.

Mitch McGovern almost joined the Dockers last year.

WINS AND ROUNDABOUTS

List boss Brad Lloyd and coach Ross Lyon stared Gold Coast down and they finally received pick No. 2 for Lachie Weller. After that stern stare they must have laughed for a long time, because there is every reason to believe Andrew Brayshaw will be a Docker for life and perhaps Nat Fyfe’s successor as captain. Nathan Wilson and Brandon Matera have powered up both ends. They were on the October podium.

FANTASY QUICK FIX

Charlie Curnow has just re-signed at Carlton until 2023. But this is fantasy land and there is no hotter property in the game than Curnow right now. It is a nice fit, too, with the Dockers still searching for Matthew Pavlich’s replacement and Cam McCarthy regressing to the WAFL. Curnow would light up Perth Stadium although his star sidekick, Patrick Cripps, is a West Australian and so would be slightly less likely to hang up on Fremantle’s phone call.

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