The ace intercep-marker had an operation to repair and tighten soft tissue in his troublesome left shoulder in Perth on Wednesday.

McGovern, 24, has been plagued with shoulder niggles for the past two seasons as he emerged as one of the finest key defensive big men in the business and one of the Eagles' most dependable players on any line.

His recovery time is tipped to be around two months and the brave defender is expected to be ready for a full return early into summer training in late November.

McGovern missed just one match this season, an eight-point loss to the Bulldogs in Melbourne in round 11 when the important backman was a late withdrawal with a virus.

He averaged more than 15 disposals across his 22 outings this season and was fifth in the league for contested marks at 49 overall.

McGovern joins ace forward and fellow 2016 All-Australian Josh Kennedy in the casualty ward after the dual Coleman medallist as the game's top goal-kicker recovers from a hernia operation and big possession winning midfielder Matt Priddis is undergoing back surgery.

Lead ruckman Scott Lycett will go under the surgeon's knife to repair extensively damaged soft tissue in his left.

Lycett, 23, could be out for as much as eight months and in serious danger of missing early games into the 2017 home-and-away season.

He needs surgery to his posterior cruciate ligament, a torn muscle tendon and extensive repairs damaged cartilage.

Lycett carried his nasty knee troubles for many weeks ahead of the finals and joins fellow big ruck star Nic Naitanui on the sidelines as he recovers from a total reconstruction from a snapped anterior cruciate ligament in the round 22 win over reigning champions Hawthorn in Perth.

Naitanui, 26, will miss the entire 2017 season in recovery.