Adelaide forward Mitch McGovern has lost his battle against a hamstring injury and won’t play in the AFL grand final.
About 10,000 fans were at Adelaide Oval for the Crows’ training session on Wednesday – the club’s last public appearance on home soil ahead of Saturday’s decider against Richmond.
Most eyes were focused on McGovern, who missed Adelaide’s preliminary final win because of a hamstring strain.
After showing no obvious discomfort during the initial phase of the 90-minute training session, McGovern didn’t participate in end-to-end drills.
The 22-year-old then rejoined his teammates for goalkicking practice at the tail end of the session.
“He hasn’t come up,” Crows coach Don Pyke told the crowd in a brief on-field interview after training.
The Crows were treated to a raucous ovation from the crowd when they ran onto Adelaide Oval.
McGovern’s fitness was shaping as the sole selection headache for Adelaide, who will enter the MCG as warm favourites to claim the club’s first premiership since 1998.
He was replaced by utility Andy Otten in their preliminary final team.