It’s a case of one down, two to go for the West Coast Eagles are successfully landing the signature of one of their 2018 free agents.
Jeremy McGovern will be sticking with the club until at least the end of 2023, having signed a five-year contract despite strong rival interest.
“It’s good news; I’m just stoked to be staying at the club,” McGovern said.
“I love the people at the club, the direction the club is taking and it’s exciting to be a part of that.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity the club has given me and it was a gut decision to extend my contract. It would have been nice to have locked it away a bit earlier, but these things take time.
“I’m pleased it is done and now I can focus on the rest of the season. Hopefully my decision puts a few West Coast fans at ease.”
Crosstown rivals Fremantle were believed to be strongly interested in poaching McGovern from the Eagles, and St Kilda and Sydney had also been rumoured to be in pursuit.
The Dockers and Saints were both reportedly willing to offer McGovern deals in excess of $1 million per season.
It’s believed that he has re-signed with the Eagles for a deal worth approximately $5 million over five years.
The Eagles’ initial offer reported earlier in the season was said to be $4 million over the same length of time.
If those figures are accurate then it appears that, like Dustin Martin before him, McGovern has used his free agent status expertly to get the maximum value out of his contract.
West Coast will now turn their attention towards re-signing Andrew Gaff and Scott Lycett.
Gaff is a Brownlow contender in 2018 playing career-best form and has attracted strong interest from a number of Victorian clubs, with Melbourne believed to be leading the race if he decides to move.
However recent rumours suggest the Demons don’t expect Gaff to be coming to them and are instead focused on re-signing breakout star Angus Brayshaw.
Lycett meanwhile has become a more difficult prospect for West Coast to work out after a second ACL injury to Nic Naitanui.
His value has skyrocketed as a result, but the Eagles will have to balance re-signing him with looking to retain Gaff, and keeping an eye on the fact that Naitanui himself is out of contract at the end of 2019.
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
McGovern hasn't proven himself up forward... IMO he wouldn't cut it.... Too slow off the mark.... He is a natural interceptor and best left down back.
Lroy
Guest
1 million per year for the best defender in the game, a guy who could potentially be one of the best key forwards in the game and pinch hit in the ruck... The Guv could legitimately be one of the competitions top centre half forwards if they left him there... crikey he was kicking goals without even trying over the last 6 weeks, he has that natural goal sense, he just knows where the sticks are. Not many players can star at either end of the ground, Its only Pavlich and James Hird that I can recall who could pull it off. Leppitsch and Alistair Lynch from the Lions used to pinch hit at either end of the ground every now and then, at least until Mal Michael turned up. So re the Guv, good business for both parties IMO.
Cat
Roar Guru
Good for the rest of the competition because all those clubs that retained their players had to do so for quite a bit more money than they had planed on spending. For example, if the rumours are correct WCE may have spent an extra million and another year retaining McGovern. Certainly Gaff and Lycett will get paid more now than the club figured to spend at the start of the year.
Bearfly
Roar Rookie
And their desperation is starting to show now with them joining North in throwing big money offers at lesser players like Port's Polec!!!
User
Roar Rookie
Nup but I'm impressed by your bravado, I guess when you're without a clue stating something as factual when it isn't would pull the wool over some ppl eyes
dangertroy
Roar Rookie
By breaching the salary cap you mean? Any offers or implications of employment post career would surely have to be considered a part of their salary package.
Cat
Roar Guru
anone would have to actually watch some footy.
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
Not that old chestnut again........ Would rather Nic Nat in my side than any other ruckman, except for Gawn and Grundy, despite only averaging 11 possessions a game. He is worth much more than that to the side.... Or can't you see that? I guess not.....
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Another one bites the dust, De Goey, Crows Tom Lynch, Sloane, Shiel, McGovern and Gaff seems lik;ey....there will be no one left for the Blues and Saints to bank their recovery on.
anon
Roar Pro
It's the vibe of it when he's out there. Everyone plays a bit taller when he's racking up his 11 possies.
User
Roar Rookie
Absolutely, wce do things in a similar vein to Geelong and hawthorn where the chance of success is high and opportunity post career as the we have a large network of successful business ppl amongst our supporter base that they will get opportunity not afforded to Joe blow. That is how we'll get them done.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Nic. Not Nick. NIC. It really isn’t hard to spell Nic’s name correctly, man. Also, can’t say I’m surprised by your incredibly shallow analysis of Nic Nat’s influence. One of the great ruckmen. Who cares if he only averages such and such number of posession when he can literally win a game off his boot, or by his ruck work.
User
Roar Rookie
No doubt govs contract will be varying year to year to smooth it out over the five years
Slane
Guest
Great news for the Eagles
anon
Roar Pro
Good move. They'll only have to pay Nick Natanui 1/3 or 1/2 as much when his contract expires next year, so you can put that money towards retaining McGovern. Far more valuable than Nick Natanui. Nick Nat only averages 11 possessions per game over his entire career.
Cat
Roar Guru
We'll never know how much extra WC may have had to stump up because of those alleged offers though. Be interesting to see how much is left for your other two FA's both whose pay packets/demands could be rising.
User
Roar Rookie
Never in doubt, guess that big money Victorian & freo offer just can't shake the guvnors loyalty
Bob
Guest
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Liam Salter
Roar Guru
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