Dermott Brereton believes Jeremy McGovern does not receive the plaudits he deserves.
Brereton feels the West Coast Eagles defender is on a par with Richmond star Alex Rance.
The Tigers backman is constantly lauded for his exploits but McGovern’s ability to play a similar role in West Coast’s premiership-wining team is understated, according to Brereton.
“Half the reason Richmond is a fantastic team is because Rance’s ability to get to the ball," the Hawthorn champion said on SEN’s KB & The Doc.
“He turns a six-man backline into literally a seven-man backline. He’ll guard his opponent and then he can read the eyes of the opposition player upfield, were he’s going to deliver, he peels off and becomes that seventh player.
“McGovern does it for the West Coast Eagles. He does it every bit as good as him (Rance).
“And that kick that he pierced through the middle off the ground which eventually found its way into the Eagles forward line for the winning goal (in the Grand Final), that kick was miraculous.”
The five-time premiership Hawk also rated McGovern’s defensive rebound in the dying stages of last year’s Grand final as the most significant field kick of season 2018.
“You could argue that as a field kick, that was the kick of the season. Given the moment, it probably was the best field kick of the season,” he added.
“He is an extraordinary player. With him that is an enormous benefit as well.”
