West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern revealed he tried to skip last year’s grand final parade, but quickly had to catch an Uber there after the AFL refused his request.
McGovern was nursing heavy bleeding near some vital organs in the lead-up to the grand final against Collingwood.
The 26-year-old needed to pass a fitness test on the day before the match to be given the all clear to play, and he originally planned to skip the traditional grand final parade in order to train more.
But when the AFL said no, McGovern had to quickly organise his own way there, and ended up arriving late.
“We were planning on not going because obviously it is a two hour thing and we were going to try to get a bit more work on it before training,” McGovern said.
“The AFL said no so I just had to rock up late in the Uber. It is what it is and it worked out.” McGovern’s injury was so serious that he wasn’t sure whether he would be given the green light to play.
“That (the decision to play) was made Friday arvo before the game,” McGovern said.
“I had to do a few things and tick a few boxes and I wasn’t sure myself to be honest. I had to get through training and had to convince Simmo (coach Adam Simpson) and the other staff “It’s all been glorified a fair bit. Most people probably play with a bit of pain.” McGovern played a star role in the five-point grand final win, with his late mark in defence helping set up Dom Sheed’s match winner.
McGovern finished with 14 disposals and nine marks.
But his heroics came at a cost, with the three-time All-Australian injuring his ribs during the match.
The ribs failed to heal naturally, meaning McGovern underwent surgery last month to insert a plate.
McGovern is confident he will be fit to play at least one game during the pre- season.
“I have pretty much done 90 per cent of the pre-season,” McGovern said. “I just had to have a small surgery on my rib, to put a plate in it to help it heal.
AFLX-ODUS CONTINUES
Hawthorn’s Luke Breust and Isaac Smith have become the latest players to bail on the AFLX mini-tournament, with further withdrawals likely before the four squads are finalised.
The premiership duo join teammate Chad Wingard, as well as several other big-name players, in being scratched from Friday night’s event in Melbourne. Unlike Wingard, who is unavailable to play in the Deadly team captained by Eddie Betts as he recovers from a calf injury, neither Breust nor Smith have fitness concerns.
The pair will play in Hawthorn’s practice match against Carlton on Thursday and have then chosen to take advantage of an AFL-mandated four-day break. Their withdrawal from Jack Riewoldt’s Rampage squad leaves Deadly vice-captain Shaun Burgoyne as the only Hawks player set to take part in AFLX.
Melbourne’s Steven May (hamstring) and Fremantle’s Joel Hamling (calf) also withdrew from the Deadly squad, while Patrick Dangerfield’s Bolts have lost Port Adelaide dynamo Robbie Gray (knee) and North Melbourne’s Robbie Tarrant (shoulder).
JOE DANIHER ON TARGET FOR PRE-SEASON RETURN
Joe Daniher’s solid training in the last few weeks is raising hopes that the Essendon star will return during the AFL pre-season.
Daniher is one of the Bombers’ most important players and they sorely missed him for the bulk of last season as they dropped out of the top eight. The key forward only managed seven games before he was sidelined with osteitis pubis.
Teammate Tom Bellchambers said Daniher has looked solid on the track, particularly in the last fortnight or so.
“I reckon he’d be hoping (to return) at some point in the JLT — I’m not too sure,” Bellchambers said.
“He’s always out here, wanting to train and wanting to do more. “It’s a conservative approach with Joe, obviously, being a long-term injury, but off the last couple of weeks I reckon he’d be hoping.
“He’s ramped up the training and he’s coping with it well.”
-AAP
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