The leading contested marker in the AFL this season is not Geelong power forward Tom Hawkins, Collingwood brute Travis Cloke, or Fremantle goliath Aaron Sandilands. It’s an unheralded, slightly-built, rookie-drafted forward playing for West Coast.
The 22-year-old Jeremy McGovern has been one of the few pluses for the Eagles in what has been a wasted, forgettable 2014 campaign.
Early this season, the 195cm youngster’s chances of breaking into an Eagles’ side, which some were predicting could challenge for a top-four finish, looked slim.
Josh Kennedy was entrenched as the team’s spearhead. Jack Darling was emerging as a champion up-forward. Quality ruckmen Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui were often resting in attack, while gifted young big men Scott Lycett and Callum Sinclair were jostling to sneak into the 22.
McGovern was at the back of the queue due, in no small part, to a pre-season indiscretion which left him on the nose with new West Coast coach Adam Simpson.
He had been given the reward of being lifted from the rookie list onto the club’s main squad after the end of last season, but then wasted that opportunity by arriving for pre-season overweight and unfit.
Simpson was displeased with McGovern’s condition and banished him from training with the main group for several weeks. The young footballer reacted positively by improving his fitness drastically and turning in a series of robust performances for East Perth in the WAFL.
McGovern had to wait until Round 6 against Carlton to make his AFL debut. An unremarkable effort, in which he collected just eight touches and a solitary goal, was not enough to see him retain his spot in the side.
He did not reappear at AFL level until Round 12 against Hawthorn. It was another dark day for West Coast as they succumbed by 44 points to the reigning premiers. But McGovern was a standout, leading with purpose and showcasing a vice-like grip in marking contests. He finished with 15 touches, 10 marks and 2 goals to be among his side’s best.
Since returning to the team against the Hawks, McGovern has kicked 12 goals from seven games while averaging six marks a match playing mainly as a high forward.
While he has impressed with his willingness to run hard up the ground as well as doubling back with intent, it is his outmarking of opponents which has been most notable.
In his eight games this season he has averaged 2.7 contested marks. To put that into context, big-money forward Cloke led the league for contested marks in 2013 and 2012 with 2.6 per game and 2.9 per game respectively.
McGovern has been rewarded with a new two-year contract. The young Eagle is building in confidence and, alongside the likes of Kennedy and Darling, looks to have the ability to develop into a potent key forward.
If West Coast can sort out their midfield woes, that trio in attack will become much more dangerous. Right now, McGovern is arguably more consistent than either of his much-vaunted fellow forwards.
The Eagles have unearthed a gem.
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