Mitch a chance for big match
ADELAIDE captain Taylor Walker says injured forward Mitch McGovern is a shock chance to play in the AFL grand final against Richmond.
Walker said McGovern, who missed the preliminary final win against Geelong after experiencing soreness in his left hamstring in the club’s scratch match 10 days ago, has upped the ante with training.
And he said he will be given the chance to prove his fitness at tomorrow’s main training session at Adelaide Oval.
“He’s training really well and we’ll give him every opportunity to train fully in our main training session,’’ Walker said. “If he gets through that he’s a good chance to play.’’
Walker said the high-flying McGovern, who adds more Xfactor to the Crows’ potent attack, had been running well but would now need to be tested “with all the footy stuff’’.
“The running under fatigue, bending over, changing direction, jumping, everything like that,’’ he told Triple M.
McGovern, who missed two months of football with a right hamstring injury after he damaged the tendon in round three against Port Adelaide, has kicked 20 goals in 13 games this season.
He was responsible for Adelaide coming from eight goals behind to “steal’’ a draw against Collingwood in Round 19 when he took a spectacular mark and goaled after the final siren at the MCG.
Walker, meanwhile, said while Adelaide were elated to be in their first AFL grand final since 1998, the players were desperate to make it count.
“As a group we’ve spoken about the fact that we’re not just going to be happy with getting there,’’ he said.
“Let’s go and win the thing.’’ Walker said coach Don Pyke, who played in three grand finals with West Coast, had also spoken to the players about how to handle the week, given no current Crow had played in an AFL grand final.
“He said stay humble and stay in the present moment because we created this opportunity and it’s important we embrace it and enjoy the ride,’’ he said.
Walker congratulated star Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin on winning the Brownlow Medal and said the Crows’ midfielders would work out a plan of how to bring the fendoff king to his knees in a tackle.
“He’s just so powerful through his hips, his reach is really long, so it’s hard to get underneath him,’’ Walker said. “So I’m sure our mids will chat about that during the week. Obviously it’s been an outstanding season from Dusty (Martin) and last night it was capped off with a Brownlow.