Retiring Sydney Swans premiership player Jarrad McVeigh will continue on as part of the coaching staff in season 2020.

McVeigh announced on Thursday morning that the 2019 season would be his last after injuries have restricted him to just five games so far this season.

Having been at the Club since he was drafted with pick 5 in the 2002 National Draft, McVeigh has currently played 324 games.

The 34-year-old is looking forward to continuing his association with the Club next season.

“I will be joining the coaching team for the next four years,” McVeigh said.

“That is something I have been thinking about for a while now as that next step is scary, the unknown, but I couldn’t think of a better football club, coaches and our players to learn from.

“The respect I have for the guys in the room is huge and I want to learn from them as much as I can to work my way back up.”

Coach John Longmire said he was excited to welcome McVeigh to the coaches box.

“We are very fortunate to have Jarrad joining our coaching panel,” Longmire said.

“He has that much to teach and his football knowledge is absolutely outstanding, so we are really fortunate to be able to have Macca join our football coaching panel next year.

“We are still working through what that looks like, but he is going to have a significant role helping our players become better both on and off the field.

“I couldn’t think of a better person to be doing that.”

McVeigh said he would take plenty of his learnings from the past 17 seasons into his new role as a coach.

“I have enjoyed the leadership, driving the young players and drive our club standards,” he said.

“I have always tried to do that in the right manner and carry myself in a respectful way throughout my career.

“I will continue to do that – it will just be on the other side.”

Longmire said McVeigh’s tenure as co-captain had been instrumental on driving important standards among the playing group.

“His legacy at this footy club is very significant,” he said.

“I was very fortunate to see him come through his whole career, he walked into my office in 2011 and said I want to be captain of this football club.

“I was very fortunate that he was able to do that because it makes coaching that much easier when you have a bloke like Macca driving your standards.”