I've just done a bit of snooping, and spoke to my "connection" at the club (who currently has a 90% success rate with these things) regarding the McCarthy situation. It sounds as if the club can get McCarthy whenever they'd like...but they're holding their guns for that one until they sort out another target...Jesse Hogan. Hogan has refused Melbourne's offer of a contract extension, and so they've come to the table with Freo. The word is that they want two quality midfielders for him (Neale & Barlow?). Freo are giving themselves until mid-next week to land that deal, and if it falls through they'll put an offer through to GWS for McCarthy - which they expect to be accepted,.