McGovern brothers play roles as Crows, Eagles notch wins

Adelaide forward Mitch McGovern kicked a goal in his return to the senior Crows side as they did enough to hold off Carlton by 12 points at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

The former North Albany junior played two games in the SANFL on his way back from a serious hamstring injury before being recalled for the Crows interstate trip and the high-flying forward was on the board in the opening term.

McGovern took six marks and had nine disposals to go with three tackles and three inside 50s in his fourth game of the season after playing the opening three rounds before tearing his hamstring against Port Adelaide.

Older brother and ex-North Albany big man Jeremy McGovern was again in the best players for the West Coast Eagles as they beat the Western Bulldogs by eight points at Etihad Stadium on Saturday. The Eagles swingman again played up forward and was highly influential with 15 touches, 10 marks, seven hit-outs, five inside 50s and a goal to help his side hold off the reigning premiers.

Up at Metricon Stadium, young North Melbourne midfielder and North Albany product Declan Mountford had the difficult task of tagging Gold Coast Suns star Gary Ablett.

Ablett, playing his 300th AFL game, was terrific for the Suns with 37 touches and 10 clearances, but Mountford acquitted himself well with a career-high 17 possessions, 10 tackles, five clearances and five inside 50s in only his fourth senior game.

Marley Williams, another former North Albany player, was a late withdrawal for the Kangaroos with a back injury.

Mt Barker ruckman Aaron Sandilands’ season is over after suffering a nasty hamstring injury in the first quarter of Fremantle’s nine-point loss to St Kilda at Domain Stadium on Sunday.

Meanwhile in the WAFL, Ongerup-bred Angus Litherland did his job in defence for Subiaco as they won a waterlogged contest against West Perth by 11 points on Saturday.

Litherland had seven touches in defence as the Lions recorded their 12th straight win.

Denmark-Walpole product Jesse Laurie was named in Claremont’s best players for his 12 touches and six tackles in defence despite his side going down to Peel Thunder in the league game by two points.

Mt Barker youngster Cam Quenby had a breakout game for Claremont in the reserves with 22 disposals, 12 tackles and five inside 50s.

Former Railways junior Beau Ewen was also in his side’s best players for another strong shutdown job for Claremont in the colts.