Jarrad McVeigh’s fifth season as skipper was a good one, despite the veteran believing otherwise in the shadows of Saturday night’s defeat.
Averaging 24 disposals a game (statistically his third best season to date) McVeigh concedes his performance throughout the season wavered and, in the end, counted for little under the disappointment of a straight-set finals exit.
“Injuries to key players didn't help but saying that we still felt we had the cattle to win that game of football so it was disappointing to finish off that way,” McVeigh said of the semi-final loss to North Melbourne.
In the wake of Nick Malceski’s departure and as Dane Rampe continued his development, McVeigh almost re-invented himself across that half-back line and as a utility when called upon.
The 266-gamer was instrumental across a number of games this season, including the Swans’ thrilling Round 8 triumph over Hawthorn when he floated forward to kick two goals and set up another to seal the win.
WATCH: Jarrad McVeigh flick the switch against the Hawks in Round 8.
McVeigh also turned back the clock in the wins over Gold Coast in Round 10 (39 disposals, seven inside 50s) and Adelaide in Round 18 (37 disposals, five clearances), with the latter result one of the co-captain’s highlights of the season due to the significance of the occasion.
"The way the boys performed for Goodesy sticks in my mind," he said.
WATCH: The Swans pay tribute to teammate Adam Goodes with a win over Adelaide in Round 18.
But with the good there were some bad, accoring to McVeigh, with the Swans' heavy losses to Hawthorn and West Coast unearthing "inconsistencies" he hopes can be ironed out as the playing group prepare for bigger and better 2016.
"You always want to play well yourself and I probably had a few inconsistencies throughout the year," he added.
"When we got belted by Hawthorn and West Coast, I didn't stand up and play to a standard that I wanted to. So I'll try and iron that stuff out of my game and hopefully continue to improve in that area.
“Team success is what we're all about. We obviously didn't get there this year but we've still got a great group who is capable of winning premierships.
"And that's what it's all about."
Jarrad McVeigh celebrates one of his two goals against Hawthorn in Round 8 at the MCG.
