The Sydney Swans are pleased to announce that co-captain Jarrad McVeigh has signed a new three-year contract that will see him remain with the club until at least the end of the 2015 season.

McVeigh, who was eligible to become a restricted free agent when his current contract expires at the end of this season, said his decision to re-commit to the Swans was an easy choice to make.

“I want to play for this team. There’s a bright young future with a lot of good, young players coming through, and with the mix of experienced guys; it was a no-brainer for me to stay at this footy club,” McVeigh told SwansTV.

“It’s always nice to be a one club player and that’s what I want to be, and to sign a new three-year deal with the team that I’ve grown up with is something that I love to do and I love playing for this team.”

Similar to the sentiments recently shared by fellow co-captain Adam Goodes, the 27-year-old McVeigh said it was the next tier of players coming through the ranks at the Swans that has him excited about what this group can achieve going forward. 

“You’ve seen throughout this year the likes of (Luke) Parker, (Sam) Reid, (Dan) Hannebery, and Jetts (Lewis Jetta), have really come through, and with more experience those guys are going to get better and better, and it’s an exciting time for this footy club,” McVeigh said.

McVeigh is the latest of a series of key signing for the Sydney Swans, with senior coach John Longmire, exciting young forward Sam Reid, and Chief Executive Andrew Ireland, all committing their futures to the red and white within the last 12 months.

The 2008 Bob Skilton medallist, who grew up as a Sydney supporter on the Central Coast of New South Wales before arriving at the Swans via the number five pick in the 2002 National Draft, said tasting the ultimate team success in the AFL is motivating him after coming so close in 2006.

“I want to win a premiership,” McVeigh said. “I was lucky enough to play in the 2006 Grand Final - unfortunately we lost that - but the experience of that time, and then the year before … to watch the boys win a premiership is something I aspire to.

“Along with Nick Malceski and Teddy Richards, who also played in a losing (Grand Final), the three of us, we always have that in the back of our minds.

“We haven’t gone too deep in the finals from that time. We’ve played finals, which is always great, but you want to get to that last day and achieve success with your best mates.

“We train so hard over the pre-season, and over a number of years, so to be able to realise a dream would be a great thing.”

To the task immediately at hand, McVeigh said the Swans need to be at their best against the Brisbane Lions this afternoon if they are to get the win and consolidate their place amongst the leaders on the competition ladder.

“We’ve put ourselves in a good position to have a real tilt this year,” McVeigh said.

“We’re second at the moment, but we know you can’t be off your game at any point (or) you can see yourself drop back straight away.

“We’re focused this week on Brisbane, who are in really good form themselves, and so are we, so that’s going to be a tough game.

“Whatever happens from there happens. We’re improving every week, and that’s what we want to do.”