‘The Gov’ a genuine swingman

Eric MacKenzie says the Eagles are still firmly eyeing finals footy. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images Source: Paul Kane / Getty Images

DEFENDER Eric Mackenzie believes West Coast may have found a genuine swingman in impressive newcomer Jeremy McGovern, five years after the retirement of premiership utility Adam Hunter.

McGovern, 22, is likely to start forward against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium today but has starred as a defender for East Perth in the WAFL this season.

Mackenzie, now the Eagles' most senior key defender following the retirement of former captain Darren Glass, said McGovern had the ability to develop into either a key defender or forward and that in the short-term he might be best utilised as a swingman.

The Eagles have not had a key position player who could be swung through both ends of the ground since the injury-forced retirement of Hunter in 2009.

"He might be able to play both. We've got a couple of good keys at either end, so wherever he fits in,'' Mackenzie said.

"It's good having the flexibility and Simmo's (coach Adam Simpson) big on having flexibility.''

McGovern, who will play just his fourth AFL game today, has taken a total of 20 marks and kicked five goals over the past two weeks against Hawthorn and Gold Coast.

Having trained with McGovern since he joined the club through the 2011 rookie draft, Mackenzie said his biggest strength was his ability to judge the ball in flight.

"He reads the flight of the ball very well,'' he said.

"He's a confident player, so when he flies at the ball he's one of the best marks at the club.''

Mackenzie declared the Eagles were "still alive" and that finals remained a possibility at 5-7 ahead of today's clash with the Saints and a daunting Western Derby on Saturday.

"There's still a heartbeat at the moment. It's very faint, but we're still a chance,'' he said.

"Funny things can happen in footy.''

Despite not being in the leadership group, Mackenzie was one of the Eagles named by Simpson as a captaincy contender who would share the skipper's job on a rotating basis for the remainder of the season.

"It's not something I've thought of. We've got a good leadership group as it is,'' Mackenzie said.

"It's not something I'm pushing for.''

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