We’ll tweak ‘Weagles Web’: McGovern

It may have failed its biggest test but Jeremy McGovern says the “Weagles Web” will be back bigger and better in 2016.

West Coast covered the losses of key defenders Eric Mackenzie and Mitch Brown brilliantly this season but Hawthorn stretched Adam Simpson’s vaunted zone defence until it snapped in Saturday’s AFL grand final.

McGovern, formerly a versatile swingman who flourished in a permanent role down back in Simpson’s scheme this year, doesn’t believe fatal flaws have been exposed.

“It got us here to the grand final so we’re not just going to go away from it now,” McGovern said.

“We’ll probably make a few tweaks though.

“We’ll go over it and adjust a few things and figure out where we fell down and learn from it.

“Hopefully we get Eric and Mitch back and we’ll adjust a few things.”

The Eagles’ error-riddled display in Saturday’s 46-point defeat at the MCG was in stark contrast to their impressive qualifying final win over the Hawks, who they harassed into making mistakes on the longer but skinnier ground at Domain Stadium.

Alastair Clarkson’s men used the extra space superbly in the premiership decider, patiently probing their opposition and switching the ball until they created a mismatch to attack.

“I wouldn’t say they played us any differently (than in the qualifying final) but they played the ground really well,” McGovern said.

“The ground is definitely no excuse for us losing but they played it well.

“They obviously play on it a lot, they know what it’s like and they were able to put a lot of pressure on.

“And we missed a few opportunities as well, but we’ll learn from that. There will be a fire in the belly after this.”

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