Younger McGovern on the rise
Claremont forward Mitch McGovern has surged in national draft calculation and could go inside the top 30.
The versatile 20-year-old, whose elder brother Jeremy McGovern has emerged as one of West Coast's most promising players, was tipped midway through last season as a potential selection in the third or fourth rounds of Thursday's national draft.
But _The Weekend West _understands there has been a spike in interest in the 191cm goal kicker since last month's national combine.
Several clubs are considering using a selection early in the draft's second round.
St Kilda, Greater Western Sydney, the Western Bulldogs and Carlton need forward-marking options and have selections in the 22-30 bracket.
The Eagles are believed to be interested in having both brothers playing for them, although the younger McGovern is every chance to be gone by their second selection at No.32.
McGovern finished inside the top 10 in the kicking test and running vertical jump at the combine despite being restricted by injury.
He played 11 league games for Claremont this year off a limited pre-season, kicking multiple goals on four occasions.
Tigers football business general manager Dean Horsington said there were plenty of positives in McGovern's game.
"His biggest strength is he's very good in the air, but he's also good down below his knees as well," Horsington said.
"He's quite versatile and it'd be quite a hard match-up when he's up playing his best football.
"Like any young kid that comes from the bush, it probably takes them a year or two to get into a State league system, but his level of maturity has just grown in the last few years. He's super fit now and he's 100 per cent dedicated."
Jeremy McGovern took until his fourth season to play for West Coast but had a strong impact this year.
