WEST Coast star Jeremy McGovern is happy to lend his brother Mitch any advice he needs after he requested a trade away from Adelaide this week, but believes his younger sibling is well prepared for the situation that lies in front of him.

Mitch shocked the Crows by requesting a trade on Monday, barely a year after he signed a contract extension with the club through to the end of 2020.

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While speculation has lingered about Mitch's future throughout the year, Jeremy revealed he didn't know about his brother's final decision until calling him to check up on his wellbeing after ankle surgery earlier this week.

"I didn't know, I only called because he'd just had surgery," Jeremy said on Wednesday.

"I gave him a call to see how he was going and he obviously told me the news. I'm there for him, whatever he needs. I support him and his decision.

"Like I've said before, it's Mitch's decision and his career. I'm there for him with whatever he needs, but I'm not having too much input. It's up to him."

Jeremy faced a similar situation to Mitch earlier this year, entering the 2018 campaign as one of the League's most high-profile free agents.

However, the Eagles defender ultimately took himself off the market when he signed a five-year deal with West Coast in July.

But while Jeremy didn't elect to leave his club, he reiterated that he will give Mitch any advice he needs during the process of him seeking a trade – provided he wants it.

"I've given him a little bit advice," Jeremy said.

"It's a bit hard to stay away from it. But I guess you deal with it. It's probably good for him that it's the off-season now, so he can get away and not have to worry about it as much.

"But it's just something that comes with footy these days. I think he's pretty well prepared for it."

Mitch is reportedly keen for a move to Victoria, with the likes of Carlton and Hawthorn the first to be strongly linked with the high-marking 23-year-old.

However, the McGoverns are from rural Western Australia, with Jeremy hopeful of trying to convince Mitch to return and join him at West Coast next year.

"I'd like to say yes, but I don't know," Jeremy said.

"I'd love him to come back, I've told him that. So he knows that, but it's up to him at the end of the day. I don't know any stuff about getting traded, it's a bit too complex for me.

"If it does happen, it'll be awesome."

However, Jeremy is reluctant to see his brother in Fremantle colours in 2019.

"I'd have to get into him a fair bit," Jeremy laughed.

"Like I said, at least he'd be in WA and he'd be home. That would be nice, seeing him a bit more. But come the Derby, it'd be pretty interesting."

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