FREMANTLE looks an unlikely destination for Mitch McGovern, with Dockers CEO Steve Rosich conceding the wantaway Adelaide forward is eyeing a move to Victoria.
The Dockers tried to lure McGovern, whose father Andrew played 63 games for the club, before he recommitted to the Crows for three more seasons last August.
But the strong-marking 23-year-old has become unsettled at Adelaide and wants out.
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Carlton, which holds the No.1 draft pick, looms as the frontrunner if a trade can be agreed, and Rosich wasn't confident of McGovern returning to WA.
"I have spoken to Mitch's manager (Colin Young). We'll see what unfolds, but at this stage it looks like if he's not at Adelaide it might be at a Melbourne-based team," Rosich told 6PR radio.
The Dockers' forward line remains their Achilles heel and recruits Cam McCarthy, Shane Kersten and Brandon Matera haven't fired.
Freo ranked 16th for scoring (71 points per game) this season and Rosich said finding goalkicking big men, either from rival clubs or in the draft, was a priority.
"There's always that appetite and you work through it," he said.
"We've proven to be a club that can attract players and that'll be a continued focus, albeit the bread and butter is drafting well.
"We won't die wondering in those conversations. If the deals are right for all concerned then hopefully that will be the case."
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Rosich has taken charge of Freo's list management since Brad Lloyd defected to Carlton as head of football.
He has been thrown an early curveball with star midfielder Lachie Neale being courted by Brisbane.
The Lions' pick four is on the table for the Dockers, who only hold selections five and 77 in this year's draft.
Freo is keen to strengthen its draft hand and could be in the mix for one of the key-position King twins – Max or Ben – with its first selection, which Rosich indicated the club wanted to use.
"(Recruiting manager) David Walls … is very positive about what we'll be able to bring to the club with our first pick in the draft," Rosich said.
"That will be the best player available.
"We'll fulfill that plan of getting four top-end players (from the top 10 since the 2016 draft) in, and that's really important for us because they're young, quality (and) drive future performance.
"We're trying to do what we can to add around that and we'll continue to do that again this Trade Period coming."
The Dockers have taken Griffin Logue, Andy Brayshaw and Adam Cerra in the top 10 from the past two drafts.
Cerra is the only player from last year's top 10 yet to re-sign with the club, but Rosich wasn't concerned the young Victorian hadn't put pen to paper.
"(I'm) looking forward to sitting down with his manager Rob D'Orazio at the right time and looking at the opportunity to extend Adam beyond next year," he said.
