And while he said he would do it all over again with the benefit of hindsight, the 33-year-old accepted he must put the interests of his health and his family above extending his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe worst thing about it all is I still think it\u2019s worth it. I\u2019d still go out and play,\u201d McGovern told Seven\u2019s Unfiltered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d be looking at myself in the mirror and saying \u2018are you putting your career and your love of this game ahead of your family?\u2019<\/p>\n
![\"McGovern](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/afed0bfae139413bf03ad0e238a1f06dc2740159.jpg\")
Camera IconMcGovern with his family after the Eagles\u2019 last game of the year. Credit: Daniel Carson\/AFL Photos<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s sad in a way and sucks but that\u2019s the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
McGovern announced his 197-game AFL career was over in June, with the decision made for the key defender by the concussion panel.<\/p>\n
The 2018 premiership player suffered a head knock in the Eagles\u2019 round-eight fixture against Melbourne and was referred to the panel after failing to recover following the mandatory 12-day period.<\/p>\n
\u201cI sort of knew I was done when the doctors said I have to go to the panel,\u201d McGovern said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was trying to tell myself that I was going to be OK to make it through, but I was kidding myself.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look at it holistically in the concussion space at the moment: My age, family, previous head knocks, injuries.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know how long I was going to play for, I had another year on my contract, but you are weighing how much footy I have got left versus the risk.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it worth the risk for long-term health? No.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Jeremy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/cdf94bd2363a759a886dfdd53888bd01a563ff0d.jpg\")
Camera IconJeremy McGovern on Channel 7’s Unfiltered. Credit: Supplied<\/p>\n
The five-time All-Australian and 2024 John Worsfold medallist said while he was glad to see players are now taking the impact of concussion seriously, he was glad the decision to end his career was taken out of his hands.<\/p>\n
He admitted he had been cavalier in the past when doctors had approached him after a head knock.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why the AFL makes these decisions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the players are really starting to come around to it as well and you do need buy in from the players. A lot of times the decision comes down to whether I want to go back out there or not.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been a shocker in the past when the docs want to pull you off and you sort of tell them to get stuffed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are only out there to try and look after you and as a player you need to respect that sometimes. Sometimes it doesn\u2019t because of the heat of the game and the circumstance of the game and everything else.\u201d<\/p>\n
McGovern said he had wrapped his head around the abrupt ending to his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs much as I am sad to not be playing, I just accept it. That\u2019s what can happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cShould I really be upset when I have had the feeling of winning a flag? Playing more games than I thought I would have.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only reason I am said is because it is the game I love.\u201d<\/p>\n