Blow for Adelaide’s flag hopes as high-flying forward Mitch McGovern hurts hamstring at training

HIGH-FLYING Adelaide forward Mitch McGovern is in serious doubt for Friday night’s home preliminary final against Geelong after hurting a hamstring at training.

Mitch McGovern celebrates his goal with Charlie Cameron and Taylor Walker. Picture: SARAH REED

HIGH-FLYING Adelaide forward Mitch McGovern is in serious doubt for Friday night’s home preliminary final against Geelong.

In what would be a second shattering blow to the club’s premiership hopes following dashing defender Brodie Smith’s knee reconstruction last week, McGovern reported hamstring soreness during training on Saturday.

Scans will determine the extent of the damage but it is possible he not only misses the preliminary final but also the following week’s grand final if the minor premier Crows get that far.

Mitch McGovern celebrates a goal. Picture: SARAH REED

It is understood the soreness is to McGovern’s left hamstring — not the right hamstring where a torn tendon sidelined him for 10 weeks from rounds four to 14.

The Crows official response to McGovern’s injury was that he “will undergo further medical investigation after reporting soreness in his hamstring. The club will provide an update when more information is available.’’

The absence of key forward McGovern, who has kicked 20 goals in 13 games this season and

famously took a spectacular mark to kick an after-the-siren goal to secure Adelaide a draw against Collingwood at the MCG in round 19, would rob the Crows of a key avenue to goal.

McGovern, who on the eve of the finals rejected overtures to return home to WA to play for Fremantle to sign a new three-year contract to stay at Adelaide, has kicked 14 goals in his past six games.

This includes hauls of four against the Magpies and Sydney in round 22.

The 22-year-old has X-factor qualities, including his high marking and a turn of speed, that can change a game in the blink of an eye.

McGovern’s setback comes on the back of 2014 All-Australian Smith rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the first quarter of the six-goal qualifying final win against the Giants.

He will miss the best part of a year following a knee reconstruction.

Star vice-captain, midfielder Rory Sloane will return to the Adelaide side for the preliminary final — and an appetising head-to-head meeting with great mate and former Crows teammate Patrick Dangerfield — after missing the GWS win following appendix surgery.

Wayne Milera, Andy Otten, Curtly Hampton and retiring veteran Scott Thompson would be among the leading contenders to replace McGovern if his hamstring injury keeps him out of Friday’s do-or-die final, forcing a structural change.

Adelaide will have three training sessions before the final — solid hit-outs today and Tuesday and a light captain’s run on Thursday.

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