One of the most frequent sights in the West Coast back line is Jeremy McGovern hobbling away after putting his body in harm's way trying to neutralise opposition attacks. Despite his theatrical heroics, he has suited up for all but a handful of games over the past four years and led the contested mark stat for defenders in that time with his trademark intercepts. He had heel surgery in November, but is expected to be fit for preseason. The likelihood of McGovern wincing after an in-game knock is about the same as Joel Selwood sporting a head bandage these days, though it has to be said that they both earn them. As a fantasy asset his game is predicated on marks, though his scores can fluctuate wildly from week to week seemingly at random depending on whether he gets involved in slow plays kicking around the key. Someone in your league should start him, given his average and durability.
McLovin the heel
One of the most frequent sights in the West Coast back line is Jeremy McGovern hobbling away after putting his body in harm's way trying to neutralise opposition attacks. Despite his theatrical heroics, he has suited up for all but a handful of games over the past four years and led the contested mark stat for defenders in that time with his trademark intercepts. He had heel surgery in November, but is expected to be fit for preseason. The likelihood of McGovern wincing after an in-game knock is about the same as Joel Selwood sporting a head bandage these days, though it has to be said that they both earn them. As a fantasy asset his game is predicated on marks, though his scores can fluctuate wildly from week to week seemingly at random depending on whether he gets involved in slow plays kicking around the key. Someone in your league should start him, given his average and durability.
McGovern covers MCG
In all three games in which Jeremy McGovern spent time forward last season, including when he booted the post-siren winner against Port, he delivered terrible fantasy scores. More than half his returns were below the back baseline as, while he rose to the top of the contested marking stat for the league, that still happened less than three times per game and he only got the ball seven times a week without marking it. The Eagles want the ball in McGovern's hands when kicked inside defensive 50 by the opposition, but on the rebound they either want it coming off the boot of Shannon Hurn and landing 70 yards away, or tucked under the arm of Lewis Jetta on the scamper. He just doesn't get involved enough in uncontested marks working the ball around the key for use in fantasy draft leagues.
Hot in the McGovern
It seemed like Jeremy McGovern spent a lot of time up forward in 2017 as he started and sometimes swung there many times, though he only got 32% of his possessions in the forward half and less than a tenth of his marks were inside 50. He ended up ranked third in the league for marks and fourth for contested grabs to boot 10.14, though he enjoyed himself far more in defence making intercepts than getting spoiled in packs at CHF. McGovern's last five games including finals were all in defence with 15 marks in the semi final, and that's most likely where he will stay in 2018 as the Eagles welcome back some injured talls. He is not an every-week starter in that position as he can put in a quiet one playing top four sides. If he was installed as a permanent forward that might increase his value, as he has shown he can score in that role. He is a middle-round prospect.
