Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy says a move to defence could be the making of Carlton’s Mitch McGovern.
New Blues boss Michael Voss told reporters on Monday that McGovern is “super keen” to play in defence as they look to fill the void left by retired backman Liam Jones.
“We are certainly happy to explore Mitch McGovern as one of the names going back,” Voss said.
“I have had those conversations with him already, and he has been super keen to maybe take on a challenge like that.”
McGovern’s time at Carlton has been blighted by poor form and injuries, playing 37 games in three seasons since joining from Adelaide on a lucrative long-term contract at the end of 2018.
Hamstring and back problems restricted McGovern to just five senior appearances in 2021.
The 27-year-old has struggled to impose himself as a forward and Healy believes a positional shift could bring out the best in the ex-Crow.
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“It could be the making of him,” Healy told Sportsday.
“Mitch McGovern could be in the All-Australian squad next year. Liam Jones reinvigorated himself as a defender, so many have done so.
“It’s a big opportunity for him, it’s a big opportunity for anybody aspiring to be a tall defender over at the Blues.
“It reeks of Mitch McGovern all of a sudden repaying Carlton for the amount of cash they’ve burnt on his recruitment.
“I think McGovern has still got potential A-grade capacity as a defender. He does a lot of things well. He doesn’t do it often enough in the forward line.”
McGovern has two years to run on his Carlton contract.
The Blues bolstered their defensive stocks in the trade period by acquiring Lewis Young from the Western Bulldogs.
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