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The perfect match isn’t just found on a Channel Nine reality TV show.
Sometimes, sport provides us with that special connection, where someone fits like a hand in a glove.
If Hawthorn wants to position itself, albeit strangely, as a glove, then it has found its hand.
This year’s biggest free agent is currently playing for a non-Victorian club and is sure to demand a seven-figure sum for his services.
And despite being linked with Hawthorn, his name isn’t Tom J Lynch.
Jeremy McGovern has been quietly linked with a number of clubs since the start of the season, yet West Coast’s 10-1 start may convince him that his future should remain in Perth.
He’s an important part of the Eagles’ defensive set up, graduating to the role of main key defender and allowing the likes of Tom Barrass and Brad Sheppard to thrive in their important roles.
While West Coast’s team defence is thriving, McGovern’s defensive performances have suffered.
Thanks to AFL StatsPro, we know that the 26-year-old’s contested defence loss percentage is at 37.1 per cent, which is extremely high for a player well-known for his elite defensive numbers (just 7.5 per cent in 2017).
If McGovern is to chase the money and leave the Eagles, he’ll want to go to a club where he can settle as the second key defender once again, allowing him to play with slightly more freedom.
As it stands, McGovern is under pressure and is struggling with his lateral movement. Tim Membrey tore him apart in Round 11 with hard running and smart leading, kicking six goals.
McGovern’s 24 disposals and 12 marks were mighty impressive, however, the incredible intercepting work is only so effective when he is conceding plenty of goals to his direct opponent.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
The key defender won’t ever feature on a reality television show, it doesn’t seem to be in his nature.
Yet, from a Hawthorn perspective, it should let the cameras into its facilities to host this year’s edition of The Perfect Match.
They clearly have money to spend and, despite what many think, they desperately need a key defender.
McGovern should be pursued heavily, particularly with James Frawley’s mini career renaissance in 2018.
Frawley has a loss rate percentage of 13 per cent and is holding up well against the ‘gorillas’ of the competition. His contract is up at the end of the season and he’ll earn a one-year deal at this rate.
The addition of McGovern would make so much sense.
Hawthorn can offer the 26-year-old the lucrative role he played in the past few seasons, as they have big enough players to cover the key defensive post.
Even if Frawley doesn’t play next season, the Hawks can plug Kaiden Brand into the role, despite his poor form to start the season. He showed some good signs in 2017.
McGovern’s value as the second key defender goes far beyond one-on-one work in that role. He backs himself to drift in front of the opposition’s main key forward, which automatically improves the overall defence of his team.
It allows for a team to use a developing or average key defender in the main role, due to the way McGovern can read the play.
Also, consider what it does to the rest of Hawthorn’s team.
Ben Stratton continues to be one of the league’s most underrated defenders, while James Sicily too, is an elite reader of the play.
It finally allows for Ryan Burton to graduate to a full-time midfield position in 2019, splitting his time between a wing position, an inside midfield role and as a resting forward.
He can immediately average 20 disposals and a goal a game next year.
Daniel Howe can move to the wing and be a tackling presence from that position while using his kicking in a less pressured situation, and James Cousins can be used as a tagger.
McGovern’s addition makes also Hawthorn’s attack more dangerous. Jarryd Roughead still has another year or two left, while Jack Gunston is elite.
Luke Breust, Paul Puopolo and Cyril Rioli are nothing new, but having more flexibility to rotate a resting midfielder more regularly into the forward line adds a different edge.
One only needs to look at Josh Caddy at Richmond and Jordan De Goey at Collingwood to realise the power of the marking mid-forward. Ryan Burton, Daniel Howe and even Liam Shiels can kick 20+ goals each.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Marc Pittonet will play in the ruck, allowing Ben McEvoy to use his contested marking up forward, making it a formidable line-up.
Jeremy McGovern has to be kept by the Eagles and is the single biggest priority they have.
Hawthorn has already been making enquiries behind the scenes and should be making an even bigger play than what the Eagles can.
The domino effect this signing would create is part of the whole allure, but don’t underestimate the incredible pure defensive impact this would have.
Tipping Hawthorn for the flag in 2018 may have been ambitious, but add McGovern in 2019 and it will be a popular choice next season.