Eagles to keep their cool over McGovern

WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson has called for calm regarding the uncertain future of Jeremy McGovern, saying the contract speculation isn’t a distraction.

McGovern raised alarm bells among Eagles fans on Thursday when he said he was likely to put contract talks on hold until the end of the season. Victorian clubs are circling the restricted free agent with reported offers of more than $1 million a season, while Fremantle is also keen.

Simpson hopes McGovern will stay put at the Eagles, and isn’t stressing about the situation.

“I don’t see it as a distraction,” Simpson said.

“It’s footy. That’s what happens on occasions. We love ‘Gov’, we want to keep him and we’re doing everything we can to keep him. He’s playing good footy, so I don’t see it as a distraction from his point of view, and the team is going all right as well.

“This is not the first time it’s happened, so I think we’ve just got to calm down a little bit. This happens a lot.”

West Coast (5-1) will be aiming to continue its hot form when it takes on Port Adelaide at Optus Stadium tonight. The Power has named star ruckman Paddy Ryder to play his first match since he suffered an achilles tendon injury in Round 1.

However, coach Ken Hinkley says he may withdraw Ryder if they deem the Optus Stadium surface too hard.

The Power will be without star forward Chad Wingard (hamstring), while the Eagles were also dealt an injury blow in the form of Lewis Jetta (calf).