Jarrad McVeigh

Jarrad McVeigh (born 7 April 1985) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is the younger brother of former Essendon midfielder Mark McVeigh. He was co-captain of the Sydney Swans alongside Adam Goodes in 2011 and 2012 and Kieren Jack from 2013 to 2016.

McVeigh was born and raised on the Central Coast in New South Wales. He played his junior football with Pennant Hills AFC and the NSW/ACT Rams. In 2001 he was the joint winner of the McLean Medal for best player at the National AFL Under 16 Championships. He performed well at the AFL Draft camp, recording the highest score in the beep test and the fastest three-kilometre run time. He was recruited by the Sydney Swans with fifth selection in the 2002 AFL Draft.

McVeigh made his AFL debut, wearing guernsey number 3, in Round 1 of the 2004 season against the Brisbane Lions at The Gabba.

Earning the Swans Most Improved Award from the 2007 season, McVeigh established himself from a tagger to a goal-kicking midfielder. In round 18, 2008 against the Western Bulldogs, he kicked a career-high 6 goals.

At the end of the 2008 season, McVeigh won his first Bob Skilton Medal, as the Swans Best and Fairest, posting 578 votes, 10 points in front of runner-up Brett Kirk, polling the maximum 50 votes in the round-18 clash against the Western Bulldogs. In 2009, McVeigh had a less successful year, missing some games due to a hamstring injury, and finishing sixth in the Best and Fairest award.