WITH the dust still settling on Adelaide’s disastrous AFL season, young star Mitch McGovern has requested a trade away from the troubled club. The 23-year-old strong-marking forward, who still has twoyears to run on his current contract, informed the Crows he wants out on Tuesday.

“We are open minded and happy to explorethe options available with Mitch and his manager,” football boss Brett Burton said.

“However, the needs of the club will be held as a high priority in any possible negotiation, especially given he is a contractedplayer.” McGovern signed a three-year contract last year that was met with much fanfare, but it has been widely reported he became unsettled at the club that has fallen from last year’s grand final to 12th spot this season.

The Crows have strenuously denied claims the Western Australian was headed for the exit at West Lakes amid reports he wasn’thappy with the deal he signed after the club lured big fish Bryce Gibbs from Carlton.

McGovern’s older brother Jeremy signed a multimillion-dollar, long-term deal to remain with West Coast this year.

media_camera Mitch McGovern wants out.

Mitch is understood to be close with Charlie Cameron and Jake Lever, who bolted for Brisbane and Melbourne respectively at the end of last season. If McGovern gets his wish he will join that pair and a number of other star players to depart the club in recent years.

Patrick Dangerfield, Kurt Tippett, Nathan Bock, Phil Davis and Jack Gunston are all either playing elsewhere or retired afterstarting their careers with the Crows.

Adelaide were wracked by injuries and the ongoing fallout from their ill-advised pre-season camp this season, which followedon from their grand final loss to Richmond.

The Gold Coast camp has been described as cult-like and psychologically- distressing for players, some of whom are believed to still require counselling.

It is unknown if the camp, run without a certified psychologist present, played a part in McGovern’sdecision to quit.

The Crows will look to make the most of the highly-sought forward’s decision. He could command two first-round draft picksin a potential trade, with wooden- spooners Carlton understood to be circling.

Adelaide are likely to hold three top-20 draft picks before McGovern’s departure and should add to that bounty as they lookto snare homegrown talents Jack Lukosius or Izak Rankine at the coming draft.

Originally published as Young gun wants out of AFL disaster