Jeremy McGovern to captain West Coast for the first time on Saturday against the Crows

Star defender Jeremy McGovern will captain the West Coast Eagles for the first time in his career, in their clash with Adelaide at the GABBA on Saturday afternoon.

McGovern was told the news in front of his teammates at training today and spoke to the group as they prepare to take on the winless Crows.

The four-time All-Australian will be the stand-in skipper for the round 6 clash after Eagles captain Luke Shuey was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

In a video of the announcement at training, McGovern said things won’t change.

“I’m not going to change.

“Let’s play hard and have some fun.”

Shuey took over the captaincy from veteran Shannon Hurn this season but injured his hamstring in last Saturday’s victory over Sydney.

The match with the Crows is the final fixture for the Eagles in the Gold Coast hub and they will fly home directly to Perth following the game.

The 28-year-old from Albany, debuted in 2012 and was made a vice-captain along with Josh Kennedy in December last year.

He has played 129 AFL matches for the Eagles.

McGovern said in his weekly Jezza’s Journal column for the Advertiser this week that he took on a bigger leadership role when Shuey went down late in the first quarter.

“My stats weren’t huge but it was more leadership stuff on the day, helping set up behind the ball and directing the back six,” McGovern penned in the journal.

“We are an intercepting team and it makes it hard when they don’t kick it in long but we adjusted well.”