Jeremy McGovern reveals internal bleeding, hospital visit before playing key Grand Final role
WEST Coast match-winner Jeremy McGovern has revealed the dramatic extent of his injury dramas this week, playing despite internal bleeding that required two nights in hospital.
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WEST Coast match-winner Jeremy McGovern has revealed the dramatic extent of his injury dramas this week, playing despite internal bleeding that required two nights in hospital.
McGovern told the Herald Sun he didn’t believe he would get to play until a Friday afternoon fitness test that saw him passed fit.
First the West Coast medicos had to decide he would not risk damage to his kidneys and bladder after a Christian Petracca collision in the preliminary final caused internal bleeding.
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The Eagles had disguised his injury as only a hip pointer injury but in fact the corkie bled so badly he was at one stage unlikely to take his place in the side.
“The decision was made (Friday) arvo late, it’s been a big week,” he said.
“I had to train and I trained pretty well but I am still in a bit of pain. But I could perform and Simmo (coach Adam Simpson) was pretty happy with that, so I am just glad they backed me in.
“On Sunday and Monday night I was in hospital for a bit, I was touch and go there. I had a bit of everything, a bit of internal bleeding.
“It was a cork that just ended up bleeding a lot more. Because it was in between my ribs and hip pointer, it just bled internally. And it got a little bit dangerous there for a bit - with the kidneys and bladder and internal stuff. But it’s all good.”
McGovern was superb as usual, the three-time All-Australian hauling in nine marks (three contested) to continually repel Collingwood attacking thrusts.
In his post-match press conference, Simpson conceded McGovern would not have played if it was a regular season match.
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“I asked that question to the docs if it was home-and-away, and they said probably not,” he said.
“He was in hospital on Saturday night and Sunday. He had a hip-pointer, so that was the truth, but he just had this internal bleeding that was around his organs.
“The hip-pointer settled a bit but there was blood in there somewhere. I’m not a doctor obviously but we had to get that settled and once we tipped over this is safe, then it was about his comfort.
“So pretty special effort I would have thought for him, to be in hospital for a couple of days. He wouldn’t have played if it was home-and-away, but he would have played if it was last week.
“I’m not surprised that Gov could do that. He plays sore a lot. He looks sore all the time, even when he’s feeling good.
“He’s an old-school footballer, not the way he plays. But he loves his mates, he loves a beer when the time’s right. He has passion for the club and that’s why he’s in our leadership group.”
McGovern has never been known for his attention to detail but he revealed he tried everything possible to get to the line.
His story will go down in Grand Final history alongside Dale Morris (two broken bones in his back) and Nigel Lappin (two broken ribs) as an AFL warrior who played despite the extraordinary risk.
“At the end of the day we diagnosed there was just a bit of blood in there, so we had to get it out,’’ he said.
“Credit to the boys, we tried everything, a bit of “wim hof” breathing, look that up, we did that all week.
“We had to throw a couple of needles in there, a bit of local (anaesthetic), but that’s nothing special.
“We did everything, we didn’t do any hyperbaric (chamber) stuff but pool running, I have got a list of stuff I have never done myself in my life.
“That breathing, six massages a day, needles, jabs, trying to drain it and cut it open, we did everything.
“I was lucky enough not to get stitches otherwise I wouldn’t be able to play but I am really fortunate.”
Originally published as Jeremy McGovern reveals internal bleeding, hospital visit before playing key Grand Final role