Crows confident Lever, McGovern will stay

Adelaide coach Don Pyke is confident Jake Lever and Mitch McGovern will soon re-sign with the club in light of the AFL's new pay deal.

Mitch McGovern of the Crows handballs against Richmond

Adelaide are confident Jake Lever and Mitch McGovern will soon re-sign with the AFL club. (AAP)

Adelaide are accelerating contract talks with prized youngsters Jake Lever and Mitch McGovern in light of the AFL's new pay deal.

Victorian Lever and West Australian McGovern are targets of home-city bids but Crows coach Don Pyke is confident both will stay in Adelaide.

"Both those guys, as I have said previously, indicated a really strong desire to stay, so we will keep working with them to try and finalise something," Pyke told reporters on Wednesday.

Pyke said Tuesday's pay deal "clears the way" for fresh talks with the pair.

"The uncertainty has been removed," he said.

"The result of the CBA (collection bargaining agreement) ... both parties seem fairly happy with the outcome - that is a positive for the players, a positive for the league.

"And from our viewpoint, from a list-management viewpoint, it just gives us that certainty. We know now what we're dealing with."

McGovern is reportedly in the sights of West Coast, where his brother Jeremy plays.

The 22-year-old forward tore a hamstring tendon in round three and had only just returned to state league ranks.

Lever's stocks have risen markedly with the 21-year-old from the Calder Cannons enjoying a breakout season in Adelaide's defence.

His form has been a key part in Adelaide's platform which, Pyke says, will "possibly" become a failure without a top-four finish.

Pyke said coaching staff used their bye last weekend to reflect on the season so far.

"It was a reflection on some of the positive things that we have done really well and some of the growth in some areas ... credit to the players and the work they have done," Pyke said.

But the Crows, who beat Hawthorn in round two at the MCG, were focused on the future, he said.

"We also sit with one eye on the future," Pyke said.

"Understanding that we're in a position now to continue to win games of footy and give ourselves the best chance to participate in finals.

"We want to keep building so, therefore, we look back and say 'yep, done some good work'. But we're not satisfied.

"If we stand still, people go past us in a heartbeat. And we can't afford to stand still."


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Source: AAP



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