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.
Lroy
Guest
+10 I think Schofield has to move onto the wing .. he has genuine pace, can run and carry and kick goals ala Peter Matera.. he is too good to be playing down back methinks. Darling in the midfield also has to happen sooner than later, they still have Fraser McCinnes , a bona fide full forward who can come in releasing McGovern to play CHB if needed.
johno
Guest
Not sure of the leading contested mark tag. In sheer numbers its Hawkins (37) - McGovern with 22 comes in at 20th, and in average it's Wood (with 3 from 1 game) and McGovern is second with 2.7. That said his presence must mean that Darling will become a midfielder. Darling is shorter than Mundy and the same size as Barlow. Simpson simply must get him more time in the middle now he has 2 key forwards and a resting ruck iup front. Add LeCras to the mix and the deficiency in West Coast becomes plain - delivery into the forward line. Darling needs to be the big body crash and bash mid.
Mat
Guest
He's been fantastic to watch and I love his attack on the ball, he'll never die wondering. Wouldn't mind him putting on a bit more bulk tbh, Kennedy may be entrenched but he's a complete pushover in a contest. And with the poor service the forwards are getting, he needs to hold his ground better.
Gregor
Guest
westcoast,com has him at 195cm and 96kg,Cloke is 196cm and 106kg,Hawkins is 197cm and 105kg,so yeah,slighter than those blokes,but for one you don't see them up and down the ground half as much and for second he's 22,Hawkins is 26 and Cloke is 27. He already makes a mess of a pack because of his speed,so he probably doesn't need to be a lot bigger.
Don Freo
Guest
Nah. You've got your skinny glasses on. I only use those for my mirror. He is big. Even his father, who was shorter, was bulky...probably what held his career back. Well, that and Damian Drum. He has more meat on him than Darling, Kennedy and Cloke. Not as ripped but certainly meatier. That Zimbo pic is probably NAB cup last year. This year he was sent away for being too fat. That's certainly not too fat. He is much more bulked up now.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Jeremy+McGovern+NAB+Cup+Rd+1+West+Coast+v+hgHDTgPdMwHl.jpg That build is definitely slight for a key forward, particularly in comparison to the other guys I mentioned.
Don Freo
Guest
With the puppy fat you could say , rotund or bulky...but never slightly built. This is what I like about a team's season winding up or end-or-season or off season. It is straight to optimism and the next wave of players. It never needs to be doom and gloom.
Balthazar
Guest
I like the look of McGovern - pity Freo didn't take him, given his dad played for them. Needs more speed and defensive pressure but he certainly adds presence. But slightly built? Even after slimming down the bloke's the size of a cow. But that just adds to his ability to eat the defence alive. Ahem.
Lroy
Guest
Agreed, have a few other potential guns playing in the WAFL, really I dont know why Simpson isnt giving them a run. Fingers crossed that sanity will prevail and we will start to see them all in Eagles colours by the end of the year.