“YOU CAN’T hide in The Cage.”

That was the message to Mitch McGovern before his rigorous training block under the watchful eye of Andrew Russell last year.

The results were clear for all to see.

Speaking to the Herald Sun, McGovern recounted the training block he undertook last year in a bid to regain fitness in the back-end of the season.

Despite coming off double ankle surgery and a fracture in his back, McGovern refused to blame anyone bar himself.

“In hindsight, I don’t back away from the fact that I didn’t do the right thing,” McGovern told the Herald Sun.

“I’ve learnt a lesson. When I think I am right to go, I am right to go, but when I am not ready now, I’m going to put my hand up and say I am not ready.”

It was “gruelling”, “terrifying” and “the hardest training block [he’s] ever done”.

However, after entering last season at 95kg, McGovern entered this pre-season at 88kg.

His commitment to his 2020 performance saw him treat his holiday to the US as ‘a mini pre-season’.

“I did absolutely everything I could,” he said.

“As hard as it is to train over there, I was running everywhere.”

The full interview contains comments from McGovern on his close relationship with David Teague, reuniting with Eddie Betts and much more. Read the full article here.