Carlton coach Michael Voss addresses difficult call that turned Mitch McGovern into an uncontracted player
After playing 17 games this year, McGovern has been unable to force his way back into Carlton's best 23 following his latest hamstring injury.
McGovern performed strongly in the VFL last weekend, but Carlton's only inclusion for Saturday's clash with Port Adelaide was star midfielder Sam Walsh.
The 30-year-old McGovern comes out of contract at season's end and is now no guarantee to sign a fresh deal amid significant change at Carlton following a horror 2025.
The decision to leave him out of the team this week means he'll fall short of the two games he needed to trigger a new contract for 2026.
The power around McGovern's future is now in Carlton's hands and Voss was asked directly if he wanted the former Adelaide player to stay at the Blues next year.
'Absolutely,' Voss said.
'While he's probably more on the back end of his career, rather than the front end, he's shown over the last couple of years that, some of the concerns he had around his body, there's less of those.
'There's nothing wrong with earning your right on the way back in.
'Being one of the older players and seeing some of the younger players playing well ... the only conversations I've had is that he's been excited by what he's seen, but he's also desperate to play.
'By not playing, clearly he's disappointed in not being able to do that.'
Third-generation Blue Jack Silvagni is another defensive pillar out of contract, weighing up options from Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs and Essendon.
Silvagni has met with all three of those clubs after already being ruled out for the rest of the season due to injury.
Voss joked Silvagni had 'been busy' but insisted he was still 'really confident' the son of the legendary Stephen Silvagni would continue at Ikon Park.
'We're at the end of the season, and they haven't signed yet,' Voss said.
'If you're lacking any confidence, it's probably around that, but in terms of needs and want to have them, we'd love for them to stay.
'But we're also realistic in where we sit in the season.'
Vice-captain Walsh will return for his first match since round 13 after recovering from a foot injury.
Voss said Walsh had been 'scratching at my door' to play, even though the Blues have just two games left this year and have long been out of finals contention.
'It's just a great sign when you've got one of your leaders that wants to see it through and wants to get out there and be a part of it,' Voss said.
'It hasn't necessarily turned to the results we're after, but we've been energised by some of the things we're seeing on the ground, seeing some of the younger players and what they've been able to do.'
Walsh has endured several interrupted pre-seasons in recent times, with serious back issues often troubling him.
The 25-year-old will be on managed minutes against the Power, but Carlton are hoping two games can help propel him into 2026.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
AFL live ladder predictor: Every club's finals chances during round 23
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Adelaide has edged closer to locking up top spot on the AFL ladder after outlasting Collingwood in an epic battle at the Adelaide Oval. Amid a barrage of Collingwood inside 50s, the Crows held on to break a 10-game losing streak to the Magpies, who lost at the ground for the first time in 10 visits. It means Adelaide has locked up a top-two spot, and can claim the minor premiership with a win over North Melbourne next week. MORE: Crows break Collingwood hearts in finals-like epic Earlier, Gold Coast had a chance to sew up a top four position and plan an assault on the top two, but that's all up in the air now. The Giants came and conquered, all but securing a finals campaign in a huge upset that shakes up the ladder. Brisbane locked up its own future with an upset of its own over the Dockers, with Fremantle now in a perilous position where they could miss finals. It is becoming increasingly likely that there will be a 15-win team miss finals for the first time in the league's history. This page will be updated throughout the weekend's games to show exactly who is favoured to miss the cut at any given point. Adelaide Crows were the first to lock in finals. Picture: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos/via Getty Images 1. ADELAIDE Played: 21, Won: 17, Lost: 5, Percentage: 141 RUN HOME R24: North Melbourne, Marvel (Saturday afternoon) What a win over Collingwood! The Crows have locked in the minor premiership - pretty much. They would need to lose to North Melbourne in round 24 to drop off, but even then, a home qualifying final awaits. Best Case Scenario: 1st Beat Kangaroos OR lose to Kangaroos AND Cats lose to Tigers Worst Case Scenario: 2nd Lose to Kangaroos AND Cats beats Tigers Expected Finish: 1st Beat Kangaroos OR lose to Kangaroos AND Cats lose to Tigers The Lions secured a finals berth after their win over the Dockers. Picture: Getty Images 2. BRISBANE Played: 22, Won: 15, Drawn: 1, Lost: 6, Percentage: 114.3 RUN HOME R24: Hawthorn, Gabba (Sunday night) Brisbane has secured its immediate future with a win over Fremantle – the Lions will play finals. A win over Hawthorn in round 24 could see them edge inside the top four, which is a huge result given the injury woes in recent weeks. Losing to Hawthorn would result in a home elimination final; potentially even against Hawthorn. Best Case Scenario: 1st Win against Hawks AND Crows lose to Magpies and Kangaroos AND Cats lose to Swans and Tigers AND Magpies lose to Demons Worst Case Scenario: 8th Lose against Hawks AND Giants beat Saints AND Dockers beat Bulldogs Expected Finish: 4th Locked up a finals appearance with a dominant win over Fremantle on Friday. Now a lot relies on the win over Hawthorn next Sunday. We're still on Jeremy Cameron 100 watch. Picture: Getty Images 3. GEELONG Played: 21, Won: 15, Lost: 6, Percentage: 139.8 RUN HOME R23: Sydney, SCG (Sunday afternoon) R24: Richmond, MCG (Saturday afternoon) Sydney at the SCG could be a tricky fixture to venture through, but if the Cats escape victorious then a top-two finish beckons. A minor premiership is not out of reach, but it would take a Collingwood win over Adelaide and a perfect end to the season – with enough of a margin to overturn the small percentage difference. Best Case Scenario: 1st Win against Swans and Tigers AND Crows lose to Magpies or Kangaroos, with a 2.6% turnaround Worst Case Scenario: 8th Lose to Swans and Tigers AND Hawks beat Lions AND Giants beat Saints Expected Finish: 2nd Win against Swans and Tigers and have expected winners from other matches A win over Sydney opens up a shot at the minor premiership, but only if the Crows slip up. But lose to the Swans and the Cats could slide outside the top four. Suns losing to Giants also firms up a top two finish There's still a lot to play out for the Magpies. Picture: Getty Images 4. COLLINGWOOD Played: 22, Won: 15, Lost: 6, Percentage: 123.1 RUN HOME R24: Melbourne, MCG (Friday night) What an eight-pointer that game was. Collingwood could've locked up a top-four finish if they held on against the Crows on a wet Saturday night. Now they need to beat Melbourne to be in the conversation for a double chance. Best Case Scenario: 2nd Beat Demons AND have Cats drop two, plus Lions lose to Hawthorn. Worst Case Scenario: 8th Lose to Melbourne AND have Giants beat Saints AND have Hawks beat Lions AND have Bulldogs beat Dockers Expected Finish: 4th Lose to Crows but beat Demons and have expected winners from other matches 5. HAWTHORN Played: 22, Won: 15, Lost: 7, Percentage: 122.7 RUN HOME R24: Brisbane, Gabba (Sunday night) A convincing win over Melbourne has them just about locked into finals - where they end up is still up to other results. Win against Brisbane and they're a chance for top four, lose and its elimination final time. They can't finish 9th; their percentage is better than Fremantle's and they're eight points ahead of the Dogs - who play each other next week. Best Case Scenario: 4th Beat Lions AND have Magpies lose to Melbourne. Worst Case Scenario: 8th Lose to Lions, and have expected winners from the other matches Expected Finish: 8th Lose to Lions, and have expected winners from the other matches The Dockers loss and Giants win means the Hawks can't finish ninth, but will likely finish eighth. An upset win at the Gabba next week pushes them into double chance territory. GWS could make the top four or miss the finals. Picture: Getty Images 6. GWS GIANTS Played: 22, Won: 15, Lost: 7, Percentage: 115.5 RUN HOME R24: St Kilda, ENGIE (Sunday afternoon) The Giants will be playing finals after their upset over the Suns. But while they can keep moving up the ladder, an elimination final beckons - very likely a home final if they knock off the Saints next week. Best Case Scenario: 5th Beat Saints AND have Suns lose to either Power or Bombers AND have Hawks beat Lions Worst Case Scenario: 8th Lose to Saints Expected Finish: 6th Beat Saints The Giants stamped their ticket to the finals with the dominant upset win over the Suns. Even if they lose to the Saints in round 24, they are locked into finals. A home final beckons if they win next week. The show is not over just yet for Nat Fyfe. Picture: Janelle St Pierre/7. FREMANTLE Played: 22, Won: 15, Lost, 7, Percentage: 108.6 RUN HOME R24: Western Bulldogs, Marvel (Sunday afternoon) Get ready for a classic 'round 24 elimination final' for Fremantle. The Dockers had a real chance to lock in a finals berth on Friday, but the loss to Brisbane could cost them a September appearance. They can still make the eight without winning next week, but it would take a whole lot of luck. Best Case Scenario: 4th Win against Bulldogs AND Cats lose to both Swans and Tigers AND Magpies lose to both Crows and Demons AND Lions beat Hawks Worst Case Scenario: 9th Lose to Bulldogs and have expected winners from other matches Expected Finish: 9th Lose to Bulldogs and have expected winners from other matches The Dockers' destiny is still in their hands - win and they're in. But lose and they miss out. A true Round 24 elimination final. The Suns are on the verge of their first finals campaign. Picture:8. GOLD COAST Played: 21, Won: 14, Lost: 7, Percentage: 121.2 RUN HOME R24: Port Adelaide, AO (Friday night) R24: Essendon, PFS (Wednesday night) Could the loss at home against the Giants be the moment in history we look back at? Surely the Suns don't miss finals from here, but the pressure is on to hold onto a double chance. Best Case Scenario: 3rd Win games against Power and Bombers AND have Lions lose to Hawks Worst Case Scenario: 9th Lose games against Power and Bombers Expected Finish: 3rd Win against Power and Bombers AND have Cats win against either Swans or Tigers A loss against the Giants has cost them a home qualifying final, but the Suns can still get a double chance - they just need to win out from here. The Bulldogs' last game of the season will determine their fate. Picture: Getty Images 9. WESTERN BULLDOGS Played: 21, Won: 13, Lost: 8, Percentage: 135.4 RUN HOME R23: West Coast, Marvel (Sunday twilight) R24: Fremantle, Marvel (Sunday afternoon) Luke Beveridge needs to echo the mantra of Dory from Finding Nemo: 'Just keep s-winning.' Knocking off the Eagles is a start, but the Bulldogs will likely need to beat Fremantle in the final round to make the top 8. But their destiny is still in their own hands, their percentage is superior to those around them. Just keep winning. Best Case Scenario: 4th Win both games AND have Giants lose to Saints AND have Suns lose to either Power or Bombers Worst Case Scenario: 9th Lose to Dockers Expected Finish: 7th Win both games and have the expected winners from other matches would lead to a 6th-place finish. The Bulldogs won't miss finals if they win their final two games, and would need results to go their way if they were to drop one of the two clashes. Round 24 v Fremantle could be an elimination final. Originally published as AFL live ladder: Who will finish in the top eight, miss the finals
West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
WAFL 2025: West Coast Eagles cop fifth wooden spoon in a row after Swan Districts kick late winner
West Coast Eagles have collected their fifth straight WAFL wooden spoon in heartbreaking circumstances after they were cruelly denied victory by a late Swan Districts major at Mineral Resources Park. Ayden Cartwright's last-gasp goal in the final minute saw the Swans cling on for a five-point win, condemning the Eagles to yet another last-placed finish with an 11.12 (78) to 11.7 (73). Three final term goals to young ruck Harry Barnett looked to have been enough for West Coast to claim their third win of the year, but Cartwright's second of the game minutes later broke hearts. Heading into their second last game of the season, the Eagles were long odds to leapfrog Subiaco in ninth, who sported an eight-point advantage. And the Eagles' battling loss made it impossible for them to overhaul the Lions and their two-win lead heading into West Coast's final game of the season, against minor premiers South Fremantle. Amid some promising showings from several AFL-listed players, West Coast did well to lead by five at the break and despite relinquishing the lead to trail by seven at the last change, heroically hit the front late thanks to Barnett's huge final term Two Jacks — Williams and Petruccelle — were among the Eagles' best, with the former kicking three and snaffling 12 marks, while the youthful triumvarte off half-back of Harvey Johnston, Tyrell Dewar and Lucca Grego all had at least 20 disposals. AFL players kicked the first three goals of the game as Petruccelle, Williams and Coen Livingstone helped their side to a 13-point lead at quarter-time, with the visitors held goalless in the first quarter. West Coast doubled their amount of goals between half-time and the final change – the only issue was the Black Ducks tripled their own tally, booting six in the third quarter to lead by seven heading into the last term. With the Eagles trailing in the final term, a pair of goals to Barnett narrowed the margin to five points as the hosts sensed a boilover. Barnett's third looked to have snatched victory, but a late Swans raid came up trumps as Cartwright side-stepped a tackle and snapped truly.
7NEWS
8 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Boos rain down as Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos given controversial free kick against Adelaide
AFL fans have called out Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos for playing for a free kick in the first quarter of Saturday night's blockbuster clash against Adelaide. Daicos and veteran Crow Brodie Smith were involved in a push and shove right under the umpire's nose at a stoppage. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Nick Daicos given free kick after tangle with Brodie Smith. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today The Brownlow Medal favourite hit Smith with an aggressive shove to the chest before Smith retaliated with a near identical blow. But then Smith gave Daicos another shot to the chest region that caused the gun Magpie squat down. The umpire immediately paid a free kick as the pro-Adelaide crowd made their feelings felt with a chorus of boos. The resulting free kick gave the Pies another inside 50 to continue their dominant start. While it didn't amount to a goal, social media lit up when a clip of the free kick was posted. 'My thoughts are that Daicos is umpired completely differently to other players,' one fan said. 'He's a champion, but gee I hate seeing him flop like this. Just looks horrible,' another said. 'The only player in the comp that gets this free kick,' another said. 'Soft, weak protected species, embarrassing. The commentators said nothing which speaks volumes,' another added. 'The fact the umpire falls for that and pays it is a joke,' another said. While the majority of the fans turned on Daicos, who is often targeted by opposition fans, there were some who said there was no need for Smith to do it. They had already given each other one each before Smith's extra blow forced the umpire into action. 'Umpires have to penalise the first action. They'll stop this within two weeks if they start giving away frees,' one fan said. 'Maybe don't punch a guy in the chest?' another said. It remains to be seen whether Smith will come under match review scrutiny for the incident. St Kilda tagger Marcus Windhager was fined for a similar blow to Daicos' chest earlier this season.
