Scintillating Swans: The Ultimate Season
Round 14 – More than just footy
Geelong v Sydney – Round 23, 2011

In August of 2011, Jarrad and Clementine McVeigh had their world turned upside down in a way that so many of us could only imagine. After living just four weeks of her life, their newborn baby girl Luella tragically passed away after being born with a serious heart condition. There are times when sport pales in significance and for McVeigh and his teammates, this was most certainly the case.

Friend and teammate, Kieren Jack recalls the events of that week. “That was just a really tough, tough week and no one experienced it tougher that Jarrad and Clementine.” He continues, “It’s hard to put into words because at the end of the day we’re just footballers and we think we ride the emotions of football, dealing with wins and losses. They were experiencing something that no one ever wants to experience in their life.”

The club rallied in support of the McVeighs, as the couple’s strength and fortitude inspired. “We were all at the funeral during the week and boys were in tears. He was our captain, and to go through what he was going through, it shocked all of us.” Jack reflects.

Amidst the deep-seated emotion and grieving, a football match would take place the following Saturday for what Jack describes as the toughest task in football. Premiership teammate Nick Smith remembers a highly unique match-day. “It was a different build up to any other game I’ve ever played in. Then, I remember the morning of the game, being in the hotel we stayed at, they brought out the paper and they already had a photo of the Cats celebrating 30 wins in a row and they were actually on 29.”

The local newspaper, the Geelong Advertiser had printed a celebratory poster, pre-empting a record breaking 30^th Cats home win. Our Bloods needed no extra motivation for this match, but they may have inadvertently found some, thanks to the locals. “We were thinking this is pretty cocky I guess and it doesn’t show much respect really.” Smith adds.

For Jack, memories of the poster are just as clear. “I remember walking down to breakfast that morning, and plastered across all the tables were the newspapers and on the front page, it was Geelong winning 30 in a row at Kardinia Park. They named all the teams they’d beaten at the bottom of it, and there was Sydney and they had a ‘W’ next to us like a win. So, they'd already penciled it in.”

Bound by brotherhood, our Bloods took to the field unified, hungry for an unlikely win.

It was a team that was building under new coach John Longmire and a victory would confirm a finals place in his first year at the helm. Jack recalls the moment that the team huddled together, preparing for the tough assignment. “I certainly know that there was the emotion of the week, that had a significant factor in the way the boys played. The talk was, well Jarrad wasn't there, but that just banded us together and just committed us to do whatever we could on the day and play the way Jarrad wanted us to play.”

Our Swans were on-song from the start and were never headed. Both Smith and Jack point to the mix of youth, experience and a fresh game plan as contributing factors to success on this day and what was to come in the future. “Roosy had stepped away and when Horse took over in 2011, we had a new bunch of players, and he had brought a new game plan.” Smith adds, “I think it was just a natural progression over Horse’s first two years to winning the flag. We had a really good bunch of blokes who were developed under Roosy and then a new game style with Horse and it all came together.”

Jack echoes Smith’s sentiments. “We had some new players and a young group who were on the way up, but we still had a lot of really strong core leaders there too. If you look at Goodesy, Ryan O’Keefe, Jude Bolton and LRT, that was a really good mix there, with the youth was coming through as well.” Jack adds, “That’s when I was considered youth! Guys like myself, Hanners, Alex Johnson and Lewis Jetta who was just in his second year at the club, Heath Grundy and Nick Smith. Those guys were all in that 24-25-year age group. Wins like that one and games like that gave the group confidence and you need to experience some luck, you need to experience some tough losses too but I think it was certainly a springboard for us to come.”

This match also appears to be a springboard for our impressive recent record at Geelong. “There could be a number of factors why we play well there,” muses Smith. “It could just be that we match up well against Geelong. It could be that the ground is skinny and when we play there, we can set up our zone a bit better. It might be because at that time we were kicking down the line a lot anyway, and at Geelong, switching the ball can be covered a lot easier, maybe we were more used to playing that way. It’s a great question for Horse!”

So, with an incredible victory achieved, Smith reflects on a highly poignant post-match. “I specifically remember walking off the ground and we went and thanked our supporters at the City End. We walked down towards our changerooms and I remember looking around and seeing tears in all the guys’ eyes.” He continues, “It was definitely the most emotional game I ever played in; even more so than the Grand Finals. Different emotions as well. I feel like this game meant a lot more than just footy. The one memory that I have is actually walking off the ground and seeing tears in everyone’s eyes.”

Smith remembers this moment with absolute clarity, in what is a clear indication of the high regard in which Jarrad and Clementine McVeigh are held. “I think when you go through these times together, it creates a stronger bond. When you go through hard times, really emotional times and you do it together, it certainly adds to that bond.” He continues, “It’s actually really hard to put in to words. This game happened nearly ten years ago, and to still have such vivid memories of one occasion, walking off the ground, I think demonstrates how much of a significant impact it had on me and on the group. It remains one of my favourite wins.”