Retiring Jeremy McGovern hangs them up

[T2B_]

Absolute champion no doubt.

Not only did he come from the rookie list, but he's just often had a body type that I guess most wouldn't consider a typical AFL physique, but he excelled. Anyone knows me, knows I love champion footballers that excel particularly because of their footy brains and skills as opposed to just athleticism, eg Sam Mitchell.

Great story even if he'd just been more than handy. But to practically change the way the modern game is played...

 

[DirtySandman]

When Jako was the best of his era.
Gov was the best of his era.

But I'm not sure the greatest CHB ever is quite right - based primarily on his match up for 2 weeks a year.

The other weeks, his direct opponent would often go hide on a wing.

 

[Cdog71]

One of the best footballers I’ve seen
and that Rnd 22, 2019 game at the G against the Tiges is in my top 3 H/A games I’ve been at.
He took 8 marks against us that day
Glad I got to see him

 

[ArdentEagle]

I posted this on our board, I'll post it here too.

Jeremy McGovern

20

Jeremy Mcgovern

Age

33

Ht

197cm

Wt

97kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.7

4star

K

10.1

4star

HB

4.6

3star

M

6.8

5star

T

1.5

3star

MG

238.7

4star

D

12.4

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

6.4

5star

T

2.0

3star

MG

183.4

3star

D

11.0

3star

K

8.8

4star

HB

2.2

2star

M

7.2

5star

T

1.4

4star

... The game quite literally evolved to try and quell his influence. That’s how dominant he was.


For mine, Gov is better than Jako. Not only the best intercepting big man I’ve ever seen, but one of the bravest too. His ability to read the play was otherworldly, but what truly set him apart was the courage he showed week in, week out, throwing his body into danger, backing into packs with no thought for self preservation, just pure, unrelenting commitment to his team.


A bloody maniac in the best possible way – fearless, unshakable, and utterly vital to our backline for more than a decade.


The end has come far too soon, but after so many concussions, it’s the right call, even if it breaks our hearts.


I’m really going to miss watching you, Gov. Thanks for everything, mate. You gave us everything you had. Forever an Eagle.

 

[Roobs321]

I'll always remember him for 2015. Our backline was decimated in the preseason, he goes back and steps up and changes our pecking order overnight, then late in the year becomes a mr fix it where need be, often playing hurt and pushing his body around for the good of the team. Then was our leading goalkicker in the granny. He was inexperienced at that point but critical enough to carry our fortunes on his back, playing games he probably shouldn't, moved wherever needed.

There was nothing more reassuring than when him and Barrass were both intercepting everything. Even when the side slid down the ladder it quelled some of the damage and felt a cheat code at times.

We’ll always be proud of you Gov, just having you out there always lifted the spirits.

 

[Plugger35]

A sad way for his career to end but he was one of the best loose man defenders I've seen and could intercept mark like a boss.

None better than that clutch intercept mark he took in defence late in the 2018 GF to set up the matchwinning goal for Sheed.

He deserves to have a statue made for him with Sheed for denying Collingwood a premiership and making Eddie McGuire cry.

 

[Elixuh]

The best presser from a player I’ve ever seen.

 

[kranky al]

Definitely main thread worthy.

What an absolute gun this bloke was.

Probably the best '3rd man up' type defender I can think of - whilst also being capable of shutting his own opponent down.


The only disappointment is that the nickname 'Chubs' McGovern never stuck.

Butterball did but

 

[Lunchtime]

Great player, great bloke, great career. 197 games, 2018 Premiership, an Eagles Best & Fairest and 5 x All Australian. In my opinion he is right up there alongside and equal with Scarlett and Rance for best defenders of the modern era in the AFL. Plus, imagine if there was State of Origin in the Rance/McGovern era........in the WA team you'd have Rance and McGoven in the backline, Natanui in the ruck, Josh Kennedy and Lance Franklin in the forward line....if only. Anyway, well done Gov....great career.

 

[Lunchtime]

McGovern comfortably better than Scarlett or Gibson.

Not sure he is "comfortably" better than Scarlett, in my opinion. I have McGovern right up alongside and equal with Scarlett and Rance. The 3 best defenders of the AFL in the modern era, certainly in the last 20 odd years, in my opinion.

 

[demondavey]

always turns into Collingwood bashing rent free

Well given that the Dom Sheed goal was set up by McGovern it’s pretty poignant to discuss. Only a Collingwood supporter would make it about them.

 

[demondavey]

Seriously tough to play in that GF with the injuries he had. Absolute commitment. Not only did he play but he set up the final play and contributed immensely to that flag.

People talk about the players of the eighties etc who played with serious injuries, but this is absolute folklore material.

Heavily underrated when talking about the best KPD. In front of Rance, Gibson and probably on par or better than Scarlett. Always stopped his opponent as well as getting contested ball and taking a plethora of intercept marks. Elite skills and disposal as well.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

I posted this on our board, I'll post it here too.

Jeremy McGovern... The game quite literally evolved to try and quell his influence. That’s how dominant he was.


For mine, Gov is better than Jako. Not only the best intercepting big man I’ve ever seen, but one of the bravest too. His ability to read the play was otherworldly, but what truly set him apart was the courage he showed week in, week out, throwing his body into danger, backing into packs with no thought for self preservation, just pure, unrelenting commitment to his team.


A bloody maniac in the best possible way – fearless, unshakable, and utterly vital to our backline for more than a decade.


The end has come far too soon, but after so many concussions, it’s the right call, even if it breaks our hearts.


I’m really going to miss watching you, Gov. Thanks for everything, mate. You gave us everything you had. Forever an Eagle.

Brought a tear to my eye. Not.

 

[ArdentEagle]

Brought a tear to my eye. Not.

 

[Scotland]

Really wish people would stop calling him a 'loose man defender' and 'third man up'. He played CHB. Eric Mackenzie didn't play after 2017, Mitch Brown didn't play after 2016. We had a defence built around McGovern/Barrrass then some combo of Hurn/Sheppard/Schofield. His opponent in the 2018 GF was Brody Mihocek

28

Brody Mihocek

Age

32

Ht

192cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.9

3star

K

8.2

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.0

4star

G

1.6

5star

D

8.4

2star

K

6.3

3star

HB

2.1

2star

M

4.3

4star

T

1.9

3star

G

1.7

5star

D

10.2

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

1.8

4star

G

1.6

5star

who was Collingwood's CHF. He didn't have the luxury of just playing on a third tall. Barrass played on Cox, Schofield on De Goey.

He was 6th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd in contested marks over 2016-2019. He had 200 uncontested possessions in a season once in his career and I've seen Josh Gibson

Josh Gibson

Age

41

Ht

189cm

Wt

93kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.4

4star

K

9.0

3star

HB

8.4

5star

M

5.1

5star

T

2.1

4star

MG

196.5

3star

No current season stats available

D

13.8

4star

K

6.2

3star

HB

7.6

5star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.6

4star

mentioned ITT. Who next, Tom Stewart? Bizarre.

His great skill was reading the ball in the air and being an elite contested mark. He was never fast by AFL standards and probably doesn't have a great vertical leap but is still 196cm tall and can one grab the ball above his head. He backed his positioning to make opponents not kick the ball in his area because half the time he was the one marking the ball while the forward was trying to defend. Didn't always work but he played to his strengths.

Top 5 key defender since 2000, yes. Best? Arguable. People prefer Scarlett or Rance (lol) etc. and that's fine.
WC team of the last almost 40 years, yes. Better than Jako? Not for mine. Different attributes and Jako played in an era where there were more true one on one match ups and the game wasn't choked up by defensive zones.

As an aside he's a bit of a Steph Curry. Kids see Curry shoot a million 3s a game and think they can play like that but shooting 4/10 3s every game is not as easy as it looks. A lot of defenders now (looking at you Harry Edwards) go for the mark over the spoil which leads to goal scoring opportunities for the opposition because while McGovern might take it 8 times out of 10 they are only going to mark 3 or 4 times.

 

[DazalenkoUBewty]

Bye

 

[THE A5]

Really wish people would stop calling him a 'loose man defender' and 'third man up'. He played CHB. Eric Mackenzie didn't play after 2017, Mitch Brown didn't play after 2016. We had a defence built around McGovern/Barrrass then some combo of Hurn/Sheppard/Schofield. His opponent in the 2018 GF was Brody Mihocek who was Collingwood's CHF. He didn't have the luxury of just playing on a third tall. Barrass played on Cox, Schofield on De Goey.

He was 6th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd in contested marks over 2016-2019. He had 200 uncontested possessions in a season once in his career and I've seen Josh Gibson mentioned ITT. Who next, Tom Stewart? Bizarre.

His great skill was reading the ball in the air and being an elite contested mark. He was never fast by AFL standards and probably doesn't have a great vertical leap but is still 196cm tall and can one grab the ball above his head. He backed his positioning to make opponents not kick the ball in his area because half the time he was the one marking the ball while the forward was trying to defend. Didn't always work but he played to his strengths.

Top 5 key defender since 2000, yes. Best? Arguable. People prefer Scarlett or Rance (lol) etc. and that's fine.
WC team of the last almost 40 years, yes. Better than Jako? Not for mine. Different attributes and Jako played in an era where there were more true one on one match ups and the game wasn't choked up by defensive zones.

As an aside he's a bit of a Steph Curry. Kids see Curry shoot a million 3s a game and think they can play like that but shooting 4/10 3s every game is not as easy as it looks. A lot of defenders now (looking at you Harry Edwards) go for the mark over the spoil which leads to goal scoring opportunities for the opposition because while McGovern might take it 8 times out of 10 they are only going to mark 3 or 4 times.

Harry’s learnt his lesson tbf and spoiling way more than he’s try to mark now. See Harry clunk em pretty well at WAFL level so till he gets some form confidence I’m happy he’s doing the basics and just spoiling

 

[Atomboy]

Phew, the Blues fans will be relieved !.

Oh wait, you said Jeremy….

 

[kreuze_missile]

Let’s hope Mitch joins him at year end.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Really wish people would stop calling him a 'loose man defender' and 'third man up'. He played CHB. Eric Mackenzie didn't play after 2017, Mitch Brown didn't play after 2016. We had a defence built around McGovern/Barrrass then some combo of Hurn/Sheppard/Schofield. His opponent in the 2018 GF was Brody Mihocek who was Collingwood's CHF. He didn't have the luxury of just playing on a third tall. Barrass played on Cox, Schofield on De Goey.

He was 6th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd in contested marks over 2016-2019. He had 200 uncontested possessions in a season once in his career and I've seen Josh Gibson mentioned ITT. Who next, Tom Stewart? Bizarre.

His great skill was reading the ball in the air and being an elite contested mark. He was never fast by AFL standards and probably doesn't have a great vertical leap but is still 196cm tall and can one grab the ball above his head. He backed his positioning to make opponents not kick the ball in his area because half the time he was the one marking the ball while the forward was trying to defend. Didn't always work but he played to his strengths.

Top 5 key defender since 2000, yes. Best? Arguable. People prefer Scarlett or Rance (lol) etc. and that's fine.
WC team of the last almost 40 years, yes. Better than Jako? Not for mine. Different attributes and Jako played in an era where there were more true one on one match ups and the game wasn't choked up by defensive zones.

As an aside he's a bit of a Steph Curry. Kids see Curry shoot a million 3s a game and think they can play like that but shooting 4/10 3s every game is not as easy as it looks. A lot of defenders now (looking at you Harry Edwards) go for the mark over the spoil which leads to goal scoring opportunities for the opposition because while McGovern might take it 8 times out of 10 they are only going to mark 3 or 4 times.

What