Speaking at the 2013 Guernsey Presentation Dinner in March, McVeigh singled out the likes of Jesse White, Andrejs Everitt and Gary Rohan among others and asked them some very simple, but powerful questions.
“Are you ready to go?,” McVeigh asked.
“Are you hungry? Are you ready to step up?
“Do you want to get better?”
Whether it was the effect of McVeigh’s speech, individual belief, or necessity due to the club’s lengthy injury list, the players the Swans co-captain spoke of have crossed the divide from fringe players into important senior contributors this season.
Jesse White has become a strong option up forward for the Swans and has kicked 20 goals in 14 games, even pushing up to the wings at times, while Andrejs Everitt has played a career-high 19 senior games, and has played in his first two AFL finals.
Gary Rohan has taken the long road back from a horrific injury to play four senior games this season and will be again in the mix for another finals opportunity this week, while players like Tom Mitchell and Jed Lamb have also answered the call to improve their game this season.
Speaking to SwansTV ahead of the club’s preliminary final against Fremantle over in Perth, McVeigh said he could not be prouder of what these players had achieved so far in 2013.
“I’m very impressed,” McVeigh said.
“Jesse White has had a really good back half of the year and is playing good, consistent footy every week, which is great.
“Andrejs has filled a really good role down on the half-back line and with his run and his good kicking skills, he’s been invaluable for us there.
“Those guys who have come through have really gone up another level this year, which they’ve needed to.”
The club will put their faith in at least two more players this weekend, with Kurt Tippett and Tom Mitchell ruled out of the side with injury.
Swans forward Ben McGlynn, who is a proven senior performer, is among the group of players hoping to make their way back into the team, with young mids Brandon Jack, Jed Lamb and Rohan also in contention for a preliminary final berth.
Following a spate of injuries to senior players, McVeigh said the Swans had learnt to put their trust in the club’s up and coming talent, and would have no hesitation in doing so again this weekend.
“We’ve got full faith in the players that will run out there,” he said.
“Obviously we’ve got a lot of injuries but the guys who have come in have done their role beautifully and have played pretty well.
“We saw Harry Cunningham come in on the weekend and Shane Biggs, who has slotted in nicely, and I’m sure they won’t be overawed by the occasion.
“Everyone will be nervous out there because we want to get off to a good start, so we’re really looking forward to playing Freo, who are a really, really good team.”
Clearly frustrated by the Swans’ qualifying final performance against Hawthorn, McVeigh said he was thrilled with the turnaround in the 24-point win over Carlton in last weekend’s semi final.
The 2013 All-Australian half-back said his team would need to raise their game again in Saturday night’s clash with the Dockers.
“We really lifted and credit to the playing group who were not happy with their performance, and then they stepped up in a huge game against Carlton,” he said.
“Now we need to go to another level this week going over to Perth to play Freo, so we can’t wait to get over there.
“We know what we’re going to get. We expect a high-pressure game with a lot of tackles and in-your-face pressure, which they bring every week.
“It’s our 22 players going over there against 40,000 Freo fans and we’re really looking forward to the opportunity to try and get into a Grand Final.”
