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"Why I love footy": McGovern on his farewell, messages with Melksham and more
Jaiden Sciberras • June 23rd, 2025 8:00 pm
Legendary West Coast Eagles defender Jeremy McGovern has officially called time on his career, medically retired by the AFL’s concussion panel following a range of extended concussion symptoms.
The five-time All-Australian publicly announced his retirement last Friday, following the advice of medical experts after a nasty head knock during West Coast’s Round 8 clash with Melbourne.
Going down as an Eagles premiership hero, McGovern admitted that despite knowing the time was approaching, saying goodbye was certainly a daunting task.
“I was dreading saying bye and all that sort of stuff,” McGovern told SEN WA Breakfast.
“I think as a player that’s something you obviously know is going to happen at some stage in your career, but having to do it is another thing.
“I’m sort of glad that I’ve done it, it’s a weird feeling that I don’t have to go or do anything but also, I’m extremely overwhelmed with all the kind messages and words and everything everyone has been saying so a bit of mixed emotions from me at the moment.”
Going down as one of the game’s most storied defenders across the modern era, McGovern has left the AFL with a series of fond memories, particularly from the early stages of his formidable career.
Looking back on his time with the Eagles, the defender spoke of the year that transformed the club, putting into place the practices and mentality that resulted in their ultimate success in 2018.
“Obviously the Grand Final is the thing that bounces it straight away, but I felt like 2015 was an amazing year as well,” McGovern continued.
“It was so fun, and you could just feel that whatever we were doing, and to be honest, I don’t think we all completely knew what we were doing.
“You could sort of start to feel, and look around and go ‘hang on, there’s something coming together here’.
“Then we made the Grand Final that year, we were obviously young and naïve, and we had no idea, we only ever played at the ‘G once every four years.
“I really liked ‘15, and then off the back of that, as much as we would have loved to win ‘15, the fact that we played in ‘15 helped set us up for ‘18 and gave us a bit more confidence gong into that.
“Obviously, ‘18 happened and that whole year was amazing. I’ve got really good memories, fond ones because I was just starting my career as well.
“That was my first year down back, and us back six started to play a bit of a different way and it suited myself and suited all the boys down there.
“It was a fun way, so they are fond memories for sure, starting building to what we ended up achieving in the Grand Final in ‘18, but I feel like it started in ‘15.”
McGovern also revealed that he has been in continued conversation with Melbourne forward Jake Melksham.
Melksham was unfortunately the player directly involved in McGovern’s last act on a football field, unintentionally nudging the defender into oncoming traffic in a marking contest within their Round 8 matchup.
“I heard from Melksham straight after the game,” McGovern said.
“He was extremely thoughtful and caring of what was going on. I’ve been chatting to him over the last few weeks to be honest.
“He has been super, and I’ve made it pretty clear with him that the whole decision is not just Jake Melksham. This is a lot of things that have happened before that.
“He seemed like a ripper, shooting me a message. I’m going to be trying to get back to all my messages today, I was a bit overwhelmed over the weekend trying to enjoy myself a bit.
“Harris Andrews, which was nice, I’ve always admired the way he’s played so that was nice.
“Obviously past players and mates, people you didn’t even know you had in your phone, Goss I think I even got a message from you mate which was nice!
“So many people, and that’s why I love footy. That’s what footy is about, all the comradery and mateships and friendships and everything like that.
“It’s just nice for everyone to shoot you a message and show that they’ve been watching you and enjoyed your career.”
With five All-Australian selections, a John Worsfold Best and Fairest award and a premiership from his 197 games, Jeremy McGovern undoubtedly leaves the game as a modern day great.
