Pyke insists overlooked McGovern will remain a Crow
Adelaide coach Don Pyke has hosed down speculation forward Mitch McGovern wants to leave the AFL club while, across town, Port Adelaide is giving speedy midfielder Jared Polec time and space to weigh up a “significant offer” from a rival club.
Mitch McGovern won't be leaving the Crows, insists Don Pyke. Photo: AAP/Julian Smith
McGovern last year signed a fresh deal with the Crows until the end of the 2020 season and Pyke dismisses rumours the West Australian-born forward wants to break that contract.
“I expect him to be here next season,” Pyke said today.
McGovern has been overlooked for selection in Adelaide’s side to play GWS on Saturday despite overcoming his recent shoulder injury.
The 23-year-old also missed eight consecutive games earlier in the season because of an ankle injury.
“It was a pretty tough decision, to be honest, to not play him (against the Giants),” Pyke said.
“He just hasn’t played a lot, that is the thing. So it’s a bit of match conditioning, match form, that is the main driver
“The reality is for him, it’s about getting some games under his belt and getting his match condition and form back to a point where he can contribute the way we know he can.
“He’s in our best 22. It’s just a matter of him getting back to that sort of condition and form to be able to play.”
Meanwhile, Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says he won’t pressure sought-after wingman Jared Polec to soon decide his AFL future.
Polec, off-contract at Port at the end of the season, is understood to be weighing up a five-year multi-million dollar offer to join North Melbourne.
The Power are understood to have tabled to Polec a three-year deal which falls well short of the money offered by North, while Sydney and St Kilda are also reportedly circling the 25-year-old.
“Jared, I’m sure, still wants to be a part of Port Adelaide. We still want him to be a part of Port Adelaide,” Hinkley said today.
“Clearly, from what I read, he has got a significant offer that he has to consider.”
Hinkley said Polec was entitled to take his time when deciding his future.
“Like any player at this time of year when they have got decisions to be made … and quite unique offers by the sound of it, they have got to take time,” he said.
“Anyone in any job, if you’re sitting here now happy with what you do and all of a sudden this massive offer comes, you have got to sit there, don’t you, and spend some time.
“It would be really big decision for anyone to make.”
Polec, who joined Port for the 2014 season after spending three seasons with Brisbane, has maintained brilliant form despite the uncertainty.
“It tells me why the Kangaroos or whoever it is want to offer him some good money,” Hinkley said.
“They’re looking at a pretty good player because he has been in bloody good form. He would be in our top two or three in our best and fairest.”
– AAP
