Football: McGovern on Eagles' rookie list

North Albany coach Brad Bootsma says Jeremy McGovern can make an impact in the AFL after the 18-year-old was taken by West Coast with pick 44 in Tuesday’s rookie draft.

Bootsma, a former Fremantle midfielder who coached McGovern at the Kangas in 2009, said the ruckman had a bright future and could handle the sharp rise to the AFL as early as next season.

“Being on the rookie list you need someone to be injured or something along those lines (to get a game) and I would say his chances to play next year are pretty slim,” he said.

“Saying that, if someone did get injured I’m pretty sure Jeremy could play at that level.

“He has the breeding stocks, his old man (Andrew) played AFL football and he is a different player to his old man.

“If he keeps developing I have no doubt he will be a good attribute to the West Coast Eagles.”

McGovern, an apprentice electrician, told the Albany Advertiser he was shovelling holes at work in Perth when the news came through that he had been picked by the Eagles.

“I’m lost for words and it’s great to get a reward for all the hard work I have put in on and off the track,” he said.

“I told my cousin, who works in the office, to keep an eye on it and let me know what Claremont guys got in and then I got a phone call from her screaming and saying I got in.

“It wasn’t just myself that got me here and I want to thank all the people who have put in the hard work over the years right back to when I was a junior, especially my old man.

“Playing in the Great Southern has toughened me up.”

Despite 2010 being his first season with the Claremont colts, McGovern excelled in the ruck in the second half of the season, averaging more than 23 hit outs in his last seven matches.

He was one of six Great Southern footballers who made the Claremont colts team in 2010 after graduating from the Great Southern Storm last year. He said he was buoyed by the fact that several players on West Coast’s rookie list had worked their way into the starting 22 last season.

“Seeing these guys come up so quickly gives me confidence and will make me try harder to get a game,” McGovern said.

“I will try hard to get a game next year but if not, I will aim at playing league football for Claremont, which will hold me in good stead,” McGovern said.

Recently promoted Eagle Andrew Strijk, who played 10 games in 2010 after being selected in last year’s rookie draft, urged McGovern to leave no stone unturned in his pursuit of an AFL debut.

“Being on the rookie list makes it harder and you need to give every8thing and just hope you get an opportunity,” Strijk said.

“The aim was to make my debut last season but I didn’t expect to play so many games.

“The club has a good youth policy and is good at developing kids so it definitely helps his chances.”

McGovern was expected to start training with the Eagles on Tuesday.