Saturday’s clash with Adelaide is not only West Coast’s final game of 2023, it will also be the final showing in blue and gold for retiring premiership-winning pair Shannon Hurn and Luke Shuey, and a farewell occasion for dual club champion Nic Naitanui.
Star West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern has played his entire career alongside the retiring legends and hopes to send them off in the right way.
“We’d love to send the boys out on a high note,” McGovern said.
“Our season hasn’t been high at all, we’ve been pretty disappointing so for us to finish of the year well, play as well as we can and try and get a win is probably the best way we can send the boys off.
“Whether we get the win or not, it’s just giving absolute effort and leaving nothing out there would be something they’d respect and they’d be proud of so I’m sure that will be the boys’ mentality heading out.”
West Coast suffered a 122-point loss to Adelaide the last time the two sides met in round 13, and McGovern said the team will be expecting another tough game from the Crows this weekend.
“We reflected back on the last time we played them, they gave us a hiding and it’s something we don’t want to happen again,” McGovern said.
“We’re going to be doing everything we can to not let that happen.
“They’re extremely unlucky to miss out on finals in the circumstances they did, so you feel for them a little bit, but the way we’re looking at them is that they’re a top-eight side and there best is really good so we will be expecting that on the weekend.”
With 171 Eagles games under his belt, McGovern plays a key leadership role within the team, and the vice-captain will be a pivotal piece of the puzzle going forward after signing on for another two seasons.
“I’m here for another couple of years which is great,” McGovern said.
“The plan is to play as much footy as I can, the last three years I haven’t played as much as I’d like due to injuries, but I’m just excited to try and lead the group and help the group.
“I’m looking forward to hanging around for the next couple of years and helping the club get back to success.”
