West Coast Eagles bookends Jake Waterman and Jeremy McGovern’s outstanding seasons have been rewarded with selection in the final 2024 All-Australian team.

McGovern was named at centre half-back, with Waterman earning a spot in the forward pocket.

It is McGovern’s fifth All-Australian honour of his remarkable career coming off the rookie list, while Waterman’s maiden blazer is the exclamation mark on a phenomenal comeback story.

The hard-working forward overcame significant health challenges last year battling an auto-immune disease to produce a career-best season, culminating in a 53-goal campaign from 20 appearances.

“Off the back of a difficult last year the perspective and gratitude I’ve discovered has really put me in good stead to enjoy my football,” Waterman said.

“There’s no coincidence that it has turned into on-field performances and I’m absolutely over the moon with this great honour.

“Very excited as well for my teammate ‘Gov’ to be selected in the team again, to remind everyone just what an incredible player he is and how lucky we have been to have him at West Coast.”

McGovern’s achievement of a fifth All-Australian gong comes five years after his last in 2019, when he was widely regarded as the game’s best key defender alongside Alex Rance.

Following several seasons plagued by injury setbacks, the 32-year-old undertook an off-season trip to Qatar to work with renowned sports physiotherapist Enda King that has reaped major dividends, along with a fresh approach at West Coast.

“My main focus was just to be out there as much as possible this year,” McGovern said.  

“The last couple of years I’ve tried a few different training methods, different ideas and things holistically about getting my body as right as possible so I could play and obviously Qatar last year helped me consistently be out there.

“Mat Inness (High Performance Manager) has come in, ‘Killa’ (Mark Kilgallon) in the weights program, there’s been a few positive changes that have helped me holistically as a player.”

McGovern produced a vintage year, rating elite for disposals (20.6 per game) and above average for intercept marks (3.2).

He joins champion wingman Peter Matera with five All-Australian blazers as an Eagle, trailing only 2006 premiership heroes Dean Cox and Ben Cousins (six).

“I haven’t really reflected on it to be honest. I have just tried to play footy as well as I can and I will continue to try and do that,” McGovern said.

“But to have my name up with those calibre of players – one, from the AFL, but two, from our footy club – is obviously a massive honour and something I’m sure I’ll reflect back on later.

“It’s pretty cool, and I remember getting the No.20 from ‘Coxy’ a fair few years ago and he was always the pinnacle in my eyes of a footballer and the type of footballer I wanted to be.

“To get another jacket in the No.20 is always nice.”

McGovern and Waterman become the first Eagles players to be selected in the final All-Australian team since Nic Naitanui earned his third blazer in 2021.  

“Jake has had an amazing season. Everyone at the club is rapt for him,” McGovern said.

“To come back from a serious illness and play like he has this year is an unbelievable effort and a credit to him.”