Eagles defender gets All-Australian nod

Former North Albany junior and current West Coast Eagles star Jeremy McGovern received his second All-Australian selection, getting the nod in the back pocket when the team was announced in Melbourne last Wednesday.

McGovern was selected in the AFL All-Australian team last season and was one of eight players to retain their place in the 22 again this season.

The tall defender was named on the fullback line alongside Richmond’s Alex Rance, who was also selected as captain, and Melbourne’s Michael Hibberd.

The 25-year-old played 22 games for the Eagles in 2017 and was ranked third in the AFL for overall marks to go with averaging 10.7 kicks, 7.7 marks and 5.7 handballs per game.

Fellow Eagles Josh Kennedy and Elliott Yeo joined McGovern in the All-Australian team. McGovern is now preparing for the Eagles’ Saturday night elimination final against Port Adelaide, where he will play a key role in their hopes of progressing.

Younger brother Mitch McGovern will be a crucial part of the Adelaide Crows’ premiership quest, which begins with a qualifying final clash with Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval tonight.

Meanwhile in the WAFL at the weekend, Denmark-Walpole product Josh Devitt-Boyd was named in the best players for Claremont’s colts side after kicking two goals in their qualifying final win over Swan Districts.

Devitt-Boyd kicked 2.1 from five kicks and five marks while also laying four tackles in the 18-point result.

In the league qualifying final, ex-Royals midfielder Steven Edwards had 19 touches and one goal from defence for South Fremantle, who lost to Peel Thunder by 18 points, while Mt Barker’s Ben Saunders was well held, managing just one major.