West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern spotted at Eagles training as decision looms on 2022 season

West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern has been spotted on the training track for the first time since being hospitalised with broken ribs. The 30-year-old, who had a stint in hospital last month following a crunching collision with Geelong spearhead Jeremy Cameron, walked laps as his Eagles teammates trained ahead of the club’s clash with Carlton on Sunday. The four-time All-Australian took it easy, stopping to chat with trainers and coaches before continuing to stroll around the boundary line. He also had a short discussion with utility Elliot Yeo, who is also sidelined for at least the next three weeks following a hamstring injury suffered in the club’s loss to Richmond. McGovern is set to meet with a surgeon next week to determine if he will play again in 2022. West Coast coach Adam Simpson revealed on Thursday that McGovern was “still a bit sore and stiff”. “It’ll be a longer term (injury),” Simpson said. “So, if we get him back in the last few games, we’ve just got to assess whether that’s worth doing.” With the absence of McGovern and now Yeo, West Coast look likely to bring tall defender Harry Edwards into the 22 to account for Blues duo Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow. Edwards, who stands at 200cm, trained with the main playing group on Thursday, with Simpson revealing he was a “strong chance” to get another opportunity. Speedy forward Jack Petruccelle looks unlikely to retain his spot after training away from the main group, spending most of the session running laps on the adjacent oval. Veteran forward Josh Kennedy is expected to return to face his old side after sitting out the flight to Melbourne to face the Tigers. Kennedy has battled knee soreness throughout the year and is understood to be in the final stages of planning his curtain call. The 34-year-old is just two goals away from a milestone 700 goals for the club, after reaching the career tally earlier in the season.