- West Coast hero almost missed 2018 grand final
Former West Coast star Jeremy McGovern has revealed how close he came to not playing in the 2018 grand final – and the threat he got from former AFL boss Gil McLachlan in the lead-up to the match.
The Eagles great, who recently retired, says he copped a ‘hectic’ knock to his midsection in his side’s preliminary final win over Melbourne that threatened to rule him out of the decider against Collingwood.
‘It was internal bleeding, it sounds a bit hectic. It was a cork internally around my organs,’ he described on Channel Seven’s Unfiltered.
‘It was a big haematoma that we couldn’t get out. We tried everything, different injections, and trying to soften it. It couldn’t come out.
McGovern explained that West Coast’s physio recommended he try breathing exercises used by extreme athlete Wim Hof, who set a world record for swimming under ice.
‘As soon as I started (the breathing method) to get my chest and diaphragm moving it started flushing it out and I started feeling heaps better. We were doing that all day, every day and massage, different types of movement. Pool running and all types of things.
Jeremy McGovern (pictured) revealed how close he came to not playing in the 2018 Grand Final
Then-CEO Gillon McLachlan (pictured) said McGovern had to show up to the grand final parade or be ruled out of the decider, in addition to costing his club a $50,000 fine
‘We were doing that before the (grand final) parade and Steve (Gravina, Eagles physio) said, “We need the next two or three hours because he’s got captain’s run this arvo and he’s not going to be able to do it unless we keep going with this”.
‘It was a $50,000 fine (for not attending the parade), and the club said, ‘No worries, we’ll pay it. We don’t care, we’ll pay it. He needs (to do this) because we want him to play’.’
However, the club was warned by then-CEO Gillon McLachlan that the injured footy star must show up to the parade or be ruled out.
‘Gill got on the phone and said, “If he doesn’t get to the parade you’re not playing”,’ McGovern continued.
‘So I get a call from Craig Vozzo (West Coast footy boss at the time) who said, “Mate, you have to get here now otherwise you’re not playing”.
‘I thought it was all good. He said, “Yeah it was, we were going to pay the fine but they said you’re not going to play”.
‘So I jumped on the back of the car. They were all waiting for me, it was even more embarrassing. I had my sunnies on and the one rule was no sunnies. All the boys were like, “The rockstar’s here”.’
McGovern says it was touch and go whether he would lace up his boots for the final.
McGovern managed to play in the final and was instrumental in helping the Eagles win
‘Really close (to missing). It was sort of no one’s (decision), everyone didn’t want to make a decision,’ he said.
‘It was pretty much left up to me, really. I did a fitness test and it wasn’t a good fitness test.
‘We had to do it in the ‘G down the hallway. “Where is everyone?”. Nah, it’s just us.
‘I bumped the bag a few times after training because I couldn’t get moving at training and said, “What do you reckon?”. They said, “We’ll give you till tomorrow”.’
McGovern played in the decider and proved to be instrumental in helping his side snatch their fourth AFL premiership.
