Former North Albany player Mitch McGovern shines in Carlton’s thrilling preliminary final win

Albany star Mitch McGovern has played a vital role in helping a red-hot Carlton progress to a preliminary final, beating Melbourne by two points in a thrilling semifinal at the MCG on Friday night.

The Blues trailed at every change but a match-winning goal to wingman Blake Acres sealed a heart-stopping win, sending his side into their first preliminary final since 2000.

McGovern, who hails from North Albany in the Great Southern Football League, gathered 20 touches to go with four marks, one tackle and had 459m gained in the 11.7 (73) to 9.17 (71) triumph.

The 28-year-old defender intercepted superbly across the four quarters and was positioned next to Acres in the forward line before the final goal of the contest.

Bayley Fritsch contested McGovern’s attempt at a mark, leaving Acres free to launch himself to take the grab before playing on and kicking the crucial major.

McGovern was on the receiving end of a Kysaiah Pickett jumper punch in the first term, the latter giving away a reversal free kick after the Demons initially had a shot on goal.

The gun defender will play in his first-ever AFL preliminary final against Brisbane in a highly anticipated clash at the Gabba on Saturday.

McGovern, who played for Adelaide from 2016-2018, was ruled out of Adelaide’s preliminary final against Geelong in 2017 because of injury and also missed the Crows’ grand final loss to Richmond the following week.

Close friend of McGovern’s and Royals captain Brayden Parker was in attendance along with his brother David Parker and they were pictured in the rooms after the game.

Former Railways junior Jacob Blight played a key role in Peel Thunder’s emphatic preliminary final win against Subiaco in the WAFL on Sunday.

Blight, who was recently named in the WAFL Team of the Year, amassed 19 disposals along with nine marks and two inside 50s in the 11.11 (77) to 7.11 (53) result.

The Thunder will face the high-flying East Fremantle in the WAFL grand final at Optus Stadium on Sunday.

The Sharks have recorded 14 wins and four losses across their 18-game campaign and head into the game as slight-favourites over the Thunder.

They were five-point winners against the Sharks in the first qualifying final a fortnight ago.

Ongerup product and Lions player Angus Dewar collected 15 touches and two tackles in the loss on Sunday.

Ex-North Albany player Corey Hitchcock gathered 11 touches to go with two marks, two inside 50s and a goal in the Lions 31-point loss to West Perth in the WAFL reserves preliminary final.

Former Denmark-Walpole ruckman Kalin Lane played in Brisbane Lions 30-point loss to Werribee in the VFL preliminary final.

The 21-year-old ruckman had 18 hit-outs, four disposals and three marks in the 14.10 (94) to 9.10 (64) defeat, as the Lions season came to an end.