The Age journalist Sam McClure believes the West Coast Eagles now have some competition for out-of-contract young Adelaide forward Mitch McGovern.
West Coast were thought to be the front runners for McGovern, with the 22-year-old set to consider moving back home to play alongside his older brother Jeremy.
A number of Victorian sides are interested in McGovern according to McClure, with Carlton the club reportedly headlining the Victorian interest.
“There are several clubs in the running for Mitch McGovern,” McClure told SEN radio on Friday night.
“If you remember to late last year when Bryce Gibbs asked to go back home to Adelaide, the first player that (list manager) Stephen Silvagni wanted on the table was Mitch McGovern.
“Carlton are certainly one of those sides that are keeping a close eye on him.
“If he doesn’t recommit to Adelaide, I don’t think it is just going back to Perth, I think there is a big chance he could end up somewhere else.”
The 22-year-old has only played 26 games for the Crows since being selected with the 43rd pick in the 2014 National Draft, but McClure believes what he's shown in his limited career is enough to warrant his pay packet.
“At the end of the day I think it would be crazy not to pay him what he is worth, because from what we’ve seen, albeit limited, he looks like he is a really good player,” McClure said.
