'Tell the truth': Malcolm Blight's extraordinary swipe at Mitch McGovern
AFL legend Malcolm Blight has slammed Mitch McGovern over the young Crow’s reasons for wanting out of Adelaide.
McGovern has been linked with a move to Carlton, saying he wants to leave the Crows despite being contracted until 2020.
On Wednesday the 23-year-old’s manager spoke about why McGovern was keen to leave.
“12 months ago, when Mitchell signed, he obviously had a belief and thoughts on where the club was going over the journey,” Colin Young said at the NAB AFL Trade Radio launch.
“During the 12 months since he signed, the club has been on a bit of a rollercoaster so Mitch has been having meetings with the club regularly on where he thought the club was going.
“To Don’s (Pyke) credit, at the end of the season, they had a fairly lengthy meeting and they both agreed that Mitch probably wasn’t a fit for the Crows so his belief where the club was going has waned and is obviously seeking the trade.”
But that didn’t sit well with Blight, who won two premierships as coach of Adelaide.
“I can’t believe that a 23-year-old with 50 games — his faith has waned,” Blighty said on FIVEaa.
“Excuse me. You are too busy trying to play the game, get a kick, and be good.
“Making assessments of a whole football club that has been around nearly 30 years, and has never bottomed out, and you’ve waned? Get over it.
“How can you make a decision like that? Tell the truth: ‘I’m going for cash because I’m hungry for cash.'”
Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes agreed.
“Spot on, that’s the truest thing you’ve ever said,” Cornes replied.
“It’s shocking for his reputation. The Crows should play hardball, but do you really want a player like that at your footy club? Probably not.
“So, good luck to you. Move on, get something decent for you and go and win three games at Carlton next year, that’ll be fun.”
Cornes was particularly perplexed by McGovern’s thinking.
“So let me get this straight, his belief in where the Crows are headed has waned?” he asked.
“The two clubs that Mitch McGovern has been linked the most strongly to are Gold Coast and Carlton.
“Now if his belief in the Crows, who played in a Grand Final 12 months ago and won 12 games this year, he’s had some issues and some injury concerns, we know that.
“But you’re telling me he’s more confident in where Carlton or the Gold Coast are going, who are going to lose both their captains this year.
“Carlton won two games. He can’t be serious, he cannot say that with a straight face, surely.”
McGovern’s looming departure adds to a recent list of players leaving the Crows including Patrick Dangerfield, Kurt Tippett, Phil Davis, Jake Lever and Charlie Cameron.
with AAP