AS JEREMY McGovern pulled down a mark with 27 seconds left in the match, only one player on the field was qualified to give a pep talk about clutch moments at the Adelaide Oval.
Luke Shuey, who famously kicked a goal after the siren against Port Adelaide in last year's elimination final, had a quick word to the Eagles next big hero.
"Shuey put the pressure on me before I even kicked it because he obviously dobbed one last year," McGovern said.
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"He told me it was my turn. He had a big smile on his face and he said come on mate, 'It's your turn – put it through' and luckily I did."
McGovern has never kicked a goal after the siren before and for a split second feared he'd blown his first attempt at the pressure play.
"It didn't really come off the boot too well, but I was just focused on aiming at that right-hand goal post – the wind was coming that way a bit and it went through," he said.
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The heat has been on West Coast this week following Andrew Gaff's suspension and questions about the club's culture and perceived arrogance.
McGovern said it was pleasing to put all that behind them.
"It was just nice for the week that we've had to win and obviously to win like that was a little bit more special," he said.
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"With the Gaffy stuff and then the whole club sort of getting a whack and criticised for a few things, it obviously affects the playing group because we care about the club, we love the club.
"Everyone knows Gaffy made a mistake and he's the first one to put his hand up. And we all acknowledge that, but I think just the way it was handled was a bit unfair.
"I'm sure he was jumping off his couch and I hope it put a smile on his face because he was struggling a little bit with it."
While McGovern will be remembered as the match-winner, the 26-year-old faced a challenging assignment against Port Adelaide's Aidyn Johnson.
Johnson kept the Eagles defender accountable, and to only nine possessions and six marks, while kicking three goals himself.
McGovern says he'll review the match-up in the coming week.
"It's just something different I need to keep working on and I'll look at a bit of vision on it," he said.
"But we don't worry about individuals too much. We worry about team defence and if I'm going to get a 'run-with' we'll try and manipulate something."
