CARLTON recruit Mitch McGovern said he was "hurt" to miss the 2017 Grand Final, revealing his absence played a part in his decision to leave Adelaide during the NAB AFL Trade Period.

McGovern was touch and go to play in the club's Grand Final loss to Richmond after suffering a hamstring injury early in its September campaign.

He was replaced in the side ahead of the preliminary final by swingman Andy Otten, before ultimately being ruled out of the Grand Final on the Wednesday prior to the clash.

Speaking as he was introduced as a Carlton player on Monday, McGovern revealed "there were areas" of Adelaide's handling of the injury that played into his decision to leave.

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"It's not very often you get the opportunity to play in a Grand Final, so that one hurt me quite a bit," McGovern said.

"There was a bit of jealousy knowing that Jezza (brother Jeremy McGovern) got to play in one and actually win one. So that burnt me for a while. But I've moved on from that."

McGovern requested a trade to Carlton at the start of the exchange period, despite having recently penned a contract extension at Adelaide taking him through until the end of 2020.

That wish was granted just three days into the trade period, with the Blues sending pick 13 and the rights to mature-aged SANFL prospect Shane McAdam to the Crows to seal the deal.

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It led to heavy criticism for McGovern from within South Australia, with Malcolm Blight suggesting the 24-year-old: "Tell the truth: 'I'm going for cash because I'm hungry for cash'."

According to McGovern, such claims were unwarranted.

"It hit a heartstring for me," he said.

"Not just me, my family as well. There was a lot going on personally, so it was difficult. You can't say much, you can't bite back at it. The only thing I can do now is look forward.

"I'm at a great footy club here at Carlton. I'm extremely excited and rapt to be here. I just can't wait for round one to put my foot down and show them why I did it."

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McGovern was at the MCG in September as his older brother Jeremy won the premiership with West Coast, despite also battling fitness issues going into the clash.

The young forward revealed seeing his sibling achieve the game's ultimate success has motivated him further to fulfil a similar ambition with Carlton.

"I missed my opportunity last year," McGovern said.

"On the eve of the Grand Final, we weren't too sure if Jezza was going to pull up for the game. It was quite a scary few days for me, thinking he was going to go through the exact same thing I went through the year before. It was a bit daunting.

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"To see his perseverance to get through what he'd been through and end up on the other side and have a big impact on the game, it was pretty special.

"It was heart-warming for me to see him win on the day. But there was a lot of burning blood inside that he got that opportunity and ended up winning it.

"It gives me that drive to help this footy club get there."