Swans midfield now a driving force

Sydney Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh is preparing to play the 200th game of his AFL career.

Sydney Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh will play his 200th AFL game on Sunday. Picture: Phil Hillyard

JARRAD McVeigh was once part of a Swans midfield that Brett Kirk described as a bunch of Ford Cortinas. Now they're more like Ferraris.

While Adam Goodes spends less time there these days, there's still plenty of star power thanks to Josh Kennedy, Dan Hannebery, Lewis Jetta, Kieren Jack, Ryan O'Keefe and McVeigh.

It's that depth and quality of talent co-captain McVeigh believes has helped return him to career-best form.

"It's a real strength of ours and it was last year we've got a number of players who can move through there and also play forward," McVeigh said.

"If one player is getting tagged, if it's Kieren or Hanners or myself, another player might get off the chain.

"Joey (Kennedy) and you've got O'Keefe and Jude (Bolton) and Parkes (Luke Parker) so there are a lot of guys who can step up if someone is down.

"You need a lot of those midfielders playing well each week to win.

"We've got guys in the reserves who will come through like Jed Lamb."

McVeigh has led the way for the defending premiers this year with standout performances in the opening five rounds.

He's averaged a touch over 103 Supercoach points per game and leads the Swans goalkicking with 11 for the year.

On Sunday, the 28-year-old will chalk up his 200th game when the Swans take on Brisbane at the SCG.

Jarrad's brother Mark retired last year after playing 232 games for Essendon.

The McVeigh brothers will become the first New South Welshmen to achieve the double milestone since Terry and Anthony Daniher, who coincidentally played at the Swans and Essendon.

Mark is sure to be there at the SCG on Sunday after returning to Sydney to take up a position with the NSWAFL in the off season.

The brothers grew up kicking the ball to each other in Killarney Vale on the Central Coast and played for Pennant Hills before embarking on successful AFL careers.

"I learned a lot from him and went to Essendon and training sessions and really followed his career really closely," Jarrad McVeigh said.

"I'm really proud of the way his (Mark's) career panned out and the way he played and the way he carried himself."

The celebrations have been coming thick and fast for the McVeigh's -- who like the Shaw's (Rhyce and Heath) and the Reid's (Sam and Ben) were there to enjoy the Swans premiership success last year.

"For me to be retiring and in the parade on the day my brother was the captain of the Swans was the greatest thing," Mark McVeigh said.

"It was a very special moment because I know what Jarrad has come from to be the player he is."
 

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