
McGovern, Sheed reflect on iconic 2018 chain of play
But McGovern and Sheed, who both hung up the boots earlier this season, hope they will be remembered for much more than one moment across their combined 362 games in blue and gold.
McGovern took a crucial intercept mark to start the chain that led to Sheed's famous goal in the decider against Collingwood at the MCG but insists it was just 'part of the game'.
'The game is much bigger than that play for myself anyway,' McGovern told 7NEWS.
'When you really reflect on it, don't get me wrong, it's great to be a part of it, and it's spoken about a bit ... but it's more the grand final, the premiership, because that's what you play footy for.
'Ultimately it's a group of boys that you're doing it with and with the club and the fans. So the player gets brought up a lot but the thought for me is more around the whole celebration and what the club did as a whole.
'That was very special, very grateful to be a part of one.' The West Coast Eagles have painted the turf at their Lathlain training ground in an apparent tribute to former players and the AFL Grand Final Justin Benson-Cooper Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian The West Coast Eagles have painted the turf at their Lathlain training ground in an apparent tribute to former players and the AFL Grand Final Justin Benson-Cooper Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian
The Eagles this week painted the turf on the second oval at their Mineral Resources Park training base in Lathlain to replicate the play.
Blue dots and a yellow line are used to signify each part of the play. McGovern took an intercept mark inside the Eagles' defensive 50 before kicking down the line to ruckman Nathan Vardy.
He then passed to Liam Ryan who flew to take a mark, then hit Sheed, who kicked the winning goal.
West Coast players also warmed up for training in shirts with 'The Golden Thread' emblazoned across them.
McGovern and Sheed will be formally farewelled at half-time of the club's clash with ladder-leaders Adelaide at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
Sheed admits he will miss running out in front of the Eagles faithful and is thrilled to get the chance to say goodbye to the club's loyal supporter base.
'The fans have been there the whole way through,' the 30-year-old said.
'And we've had a couple of rough years at the footy club but they keep coming week-in, week-out so we owe it to them. The West Coast Eagles win the AFL Grand Final: Dom Sheed, Jeremy McGovern, Tom Barrass & Chris Masten. Credit: Michael Wilson / The West Australian
'That's one thing I'm probably going to miss most, is running out in front of 50,000 West Coast fans, so it'll be nice to do it once more.
'To get out there and say thanks to them for all their support and hopefully they can just keep continuing to support the footy club.'
McGovern, 33, was medically retired by the AFL's concussion panel in June less than a year after his maiden club champion award, while Sheed called time on his career later that month after being sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury in what became his final season.
Both McGovern, who played 197 games for the Eagles, and Sheed, who played 165 games, are life members of the club.
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West Australian
5 hours ago
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ABC News
15 hours ago
- ABC News
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