West Coast premiership hero Jeremy McGovern forced into premature retirement by AFL concussion panel
West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern has been forced to retire by the AFL's concussion panel, after waiting almost two months for a verdict.
McGovern has not played since round eight and his fate was taken out of his own hands by the league, given the many concussions he has suffered across his career.
The 33-year-old was contracted with the Eagles until the end of 2026, but will join the likes of Melbourne's Angus Brayshaw and Collingwood's Nathan Murphy, who were also forced into retirement because of repeated concussions.
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Jeremy McGovern erupts with joy as the West Coast Eagles win the 2018 AFL grand final. Getty
He had been awaiting a decision from the concussion panel since May.
McGovern finishes his career as a five-time All-Australian, including making the team in 2024, reigniting his career after battling long-term injuries.
He played in the club's 2018 premiership win over Collingwood, starting the now iconic final play that led to the match-winning goal.
McGovern finishes his career on 197 AFL games after being selected in the 2010 rookie draft and was named in the AFL Record's team of the 21st century last year.
"It's been an absolute honour to pull on the West Coast jumper for the past 15 years and it's something that I will forever be grateful for," McGovern told the club's website.
"As much as this isn't the way I would have liked to go out, I respect the decision.
"I'm gutted I don't get to pull the jumper on and run out one more time, but sometimes this is the way the game goes, and I am forever grateful to the West Coast supporters who have also shown me love and respect.
"I will forever be indebted to West Coast and I will always bleed blue and gold."
McGovern spoke in a press conference in Perth today, thanking the club for the last 15 years.
He admitted he entered the club as a "fat kid from Albany", and hopes he left the club in a better place and "slightly less fat".
