Trade HQ: West Coast faces challenge to keep stars, could target homesick players

RIVAL clubs are queuing up to make big offers to Jeremy McGovern and Andrew Gaff. Where will they play next year and which homesick Victorians should West Coast target in trade talks?

THE revival of this group has been stunning given the downcast views of most.

Adam Simpson has done a tremendous job with the fresh batch of forwards from last year’s draft while reigniting Jack Darling, Mark LeCras and Jack Redden.

Jeremy McGovern is a two-time All-Australian and tracking that way again this season and rumours of six-year deals in excess of $6.5 million are proving difficult for West Coast to thwart.

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Andrew Gaff is also being tempted to leave, but it’s expected he’ll stay.

Clearly the Eagles have more to lose than gain in any trades given the names above and their importance to how West Coast plays its football, but if they do vacate the future is still strong. Elliot Yeo, Tom Barrass, Darling, Luke Shuey and Nic Naitanui are all in their prime football years.

Will Andrew Gaff resist big offers to return home? Picture: Michael Klein

The Eagles’ first pick in this years draft is currently pick 22. They’d be keen to advance up the order, but the biggest priority is clearly to retain McGovern and Gaff.

The Eagles need more midfielders as last year’s draft selections were almost exclusively forward types. A stacked draft is looming and it’ll be fascinating to witness Brady Rawlings’ ability to negotiate extra mid-tier draft selections via future or player trades.

Fingers crossed on J McGov, Eagles fans.

PREMIERSHIP CLOCK: 9pm. Nervous times.

AL PATON REVIEWS WEST COAST’S TRADE OPTIONS

IN PLAY

1. Jeremy McGovern

Age: 26

Games in 2018: 12

Premier interceptor and free agent has put off contract talks until the end of the season so alarm bells are ringing. Sydney has had a sniff, Freo would love him and a Victorian club has

reportedly offered $7 million over six years. Having said all that, wouldn’t surprise if he

stays.

2. Andrew Gaff

Age: 26

Games in 2018: 13

Top of the most wanted list for five Victorian clubs: Melbourne, St Kilda, Carlton, Essendon

and North Melbourne. Dees seem best placed if the restricted free agent decides to come

home to Victoria. Midfield jet.

3. Scott Lycett

Age: 25

Games in 2018: 13

Has formed a brilliant partnership with Nic Naitanui but could jump at the chance to be the stand-alone No.1 ruckman at another team. A number of clubs including Richmond, Carlton and Essendon would be considering their succession plans in the ruck. Expect big money

offers.

Jeremy McGovern has put off contract talks.

BUY BUY BUY

1. Alex Fasolo

Age: 25

Club: Collingwood

Games in 2018: 1

Has fallen down the pecking order at the Pies and likely to be looking for a fresh start. Going home to WA would have plenty of appeal and he could replace veteran Mark LeCras in front

of goal. Easy to forget he’s only 25.

2. Neville Jetta

Age: 28

Club: Melbourne

Games in 2018: 13

Gun small defender (he beat Robbie Gray a week ago) said at the start of the season he wanted to be a one-club player but contract talk has gone deathly quiet since. He’s an

unrestricted free agent from WA and the cousin of Eagle Lewis.

3. Shai Bolton

Age: 19

Club: Richmond

Games in 2018: 2

Hugely talented top-30 draft pick who can’t crack Richmond’s best 22 and has put off

contract talks until the end of the year. The Tigers just have too many good small forwards

and the Eagles have a fair share too, but Bolton could eventually push up the ground. Rivals

were wary of the go-home factor in his draft year.

Could the Eagles sell Neville Jetta on the idea of returning to WA?

WINS AND ROUNDABOUTS

Minor players in last year’s trade period, picking up only Brendon Ah Chee from Port

Adelaide. He has played only four games but didn’t really cost anything. A complicated deal

with Gold Coast in which the Eagles gave away their first-round pick this year in exchange

for a swag of selections is looking a winner after picking up a handful of local talents

including Liam Ryan. Meanwhile, that first-round pick is likely to be in the 15-18 range, a lot

lower than the Suns would have been hoping.

FANTASY QUICK FIX

If the Eagles could pick one player from a rival club to play the next three months in blue

and gold they could do worse than Hawk Jack Gunston. He can play full-forward to cover for

Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling then move up on to a flank or even into defence as needed.

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