The performance against the Kangaroos, which saw the visitors finish strongly with nine second half goals to three, was one of the low points of year for the club, banishing the Swans to a one-and-three start to the season.
Speaking at Monday’s training session ahead of Friday’s preliminary final, McVeigh said his side had made vast improvements since the round four loss.
“I don’t want to remember too much because it wasn’t a great day,” McVeigh said.
“They comprehensively beat us, but we’re a completely different team now and the way we were playing then is not the way we want to play.
“It was unacceptable for us and fortunately we turned it around.
“For us, it’s a distant memory and we think we’re a lot better team coming into this week’s game.”
While the Swans were without Kurt Tippett, Adam Goodes, Sam Reid and Craig Bird in the round four loss, the co-captain made no excuses for the performance against the Kangaroos.
Instead, McVeigh said the match, which was the club’s biggest loss this season, was the catalyst for the Swans’ turnaround in form, with 12 consecutive games following straight after.
“It was (a turning point) in terms of the fact we came out the next week and had 100 tackles and played well against Fremantle,” he said.
“That really set us up for the season and we went on a bit of a run, so I guess so in those terms, but we just wanted to get back to the way we wanted to play and that happened the next week after that game.”
North Melbourne will enter Friday’s must-win clash full of confidence following a six-point win over Geelong at the MCG last Friday night.
McVeigh, who watched the semi final alongside his team mates, said he was impressed with the way the Roos played against Geelong.
“They were really impressive the other night against Geelong with the way they moved the ball and the way they ran really hard,” he said.
“It was really impressive and we’ve got a tough ask this weekend.”
While the Roos impressed, McVeigh added that his own side was in equally impressive form, and said the Swans felt confident heading into the preliminary final.
“We’re in really good form ourselves at the moment and we feel very confident going into the game,” he said.
“We get a great opportunity to play on our home deck for a prelim final, so it doesn’t get any better than that.
“We’ve got a great opportunity for us and our fans to get to see us this year, and we don’t want to waste those opportunities.”
