The award, which was voted on by the match committee, recognised Kennedy and McVeigh as the team’s best contributors throughout this year’s finals campaign, which culminated in the Swans’ 25-point preliminary final loss to Fremantle in Perth.
Kennedy was one of the Swans’ most consistent this finals series, averaging 25.6 disposals, 7.3 clearances and 7.3 tackles, while co-captain McVeigh produced a stellar semi-final performance against Carlton with 42 touches and two goals at ANZ Stadium.
In his 10 career finals with the Swans, the 25-year-old Kennedy has averaged an amazing 28.4 disposals, 16.9 contested possessions, 8.1 clearances and 5.3 tackles.
Speaking on the night, Kennedy said he was honoured to receive the finals award alongside McVeigh, who was also named the 2013 Bob Skilton medallist.
“I feel privileged, especially with Macca who I think has had an amazing year,” he said.
“I was stoked to be standing up there with him.”
Kennedy, who placed third in this year’s Bob Skilton Medal count after winning it last year, was most impressed by McVeigh’s semi-final performance.
“That was an incredible game and it was one of those ones where you just sit back throughout the game and just think ‘Far out, he’s killing it!’,” he said.
Reflecting on a season which saw the Swans win one of three finals, the Kennedy said there was plenty of room for improvement for the club ahead of the 2014 season.
“(My games) were relatively consistent but when you finished like we did, you think that you could of given a bit more and I think that was the case,” he said.
“Whether or not that’s my own game or trying to get more out of everyone else, I think on a whole we definitely have what it takes to match it with the best sides and win another premiership and I think it’s just about going back to the drawing board and trying to achieve that.
“It’s something that we all pride ourselves on is playing well in finals and big games and that’s what we play for.”
With the club’s lengthy injury list, a number of inexperienced Swans got their first taste of September football in 2013, with Harry Cunningham, Shane Biggs and Andrejs Everitt all playing their first finals matches.
Despite missing several seasoned finals campaigners, Kennedy said the Swans had not accepted that as an excuse for their finish to the season.
“There was an element of pride in that respect (making a preliminary final missing so much experience), but I still think that even the players we had out there had the ability to win another premiership,” he said.
“No doubt that we’ll go back to the drawing board and will be bigger and better next year.”
