PURPOSE off the field driving performance on it.

It’s been well-established that the McGovern family is a football family, with Mitch joining dad Andrew (Sydney, Fremantle) and Jeremy (West Coast) in the elite competition.

But it’s the family he’s built with wife Kirsten that has provided McGovern with the clarity and motivation needed off the field.

Speaking to The Age, McGovern said he was no stranger to the commentary which has surrounded him in his time at Carlton, but his 2023 season - his best in Blue - was fuelled by family.

“You find out having kids, you have to give 110 per cent at home and [that] means you have to give 110 per cent [at the Club] as well,” McGovern said.

“It breaks up your profession and your life and passions outside football, so that has helped me a lot in the last three years in particular.

“It was a tough period . . . I really struggled with that, the media scrutiny. I was only 24-25 at the time, so quite immature in a footy sense.

“I don’t have five minutes to look at any media reports or something that’s been said about me these days . . . a few of the boys have a chuckle that I’m always here from seven until five getting my craft in, it’s a bit of a running gag.”

If he was to look into what’s being said about him in the present day, a lot of the discussion is around how McGovern and the backline Blues will cope despite Jacob Weitering’s calf injury.

For the defender, he referenced the squad mentality which was so crucial for Michael Voss’ side in 2023.

“He’s a vital player in our system and our team and we love what he does, but for me, not a lot should change. We’re relying a lot more on each other as a unit, system and team defence.

“We’re not raising the ceiling as much as raising the floor. As a group, we want to get more consistent.”

For the full chat McGovern had with The Age’s Pete Ryan, click the following link.