McGovern boots two in milestone match

North Albany junior Mitch McGovern booted two majors upon his return to the Adelaide Oval, this time as a Carlton player, as he ran out in his milestone 50th AFL match on Saturday.

It has been a long road to 50 AFL games for the youngest of the McGovern brothers, with injury restricting the high-flying forward to 48 games in four seasons on the Crows list.

Traded to the Blues at the end of last year, McGovern overcame a back injury in the pre-season to figure in the Blues’ round 1 loss to Richmond.

He kicked two goals and was lively in the Blues’ 16-point defeat at the hands of Port Adelaide.

McGovern had nine disposals, five marks and four inside 50s to go with his two majors and said it was a strange feeling being back at the Adelaide Oval.

“It was pretty weird,” he said.

“I loved when I ran out and took my first mark and got the boos.

“That was good fun.

“I love this stadium, I love the Adelaide Oval, so it was good fun to actually be back in front of my partner’s family and friends to play my 50th.”

Railways product Jordan Clark, pictured inset, kicked his first AFL goal in just his second game after an unselfish act from teammate Tom Hawkins.

The Cats thrashed Melbourne in slippery conditions at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night as Clark overcame a slow start to finish with 15 possessions, three marks, four rebound 50s and four tackles.

The 18-year-old’s big moment, however, came in the dying stages of the final turn as he intercepted a Demons kick, bursting inside forward 50 and handballing over to Hawkins as he ran into an open goal.

Clark kept running and with no Demons in sight, Hawkins gave the ball back to the youngster as he booted it home from the goal line with ease — reward for his effort in the middle of the ground.

North Albany’s Marley Williams had seven touches in North Melbourne’s loss to Brisbane on Sunday, while Lake Grace star Nat Fyfe was one of Fremantle’s best players in defeat as well, collecting 31 disposals and nine clearances.