Grand final loss still hurts: McVeigh

Updated September 26, 2012 15:13:48

Sydney co-captain Jarrad McVeigh says he is desperate to avoid a repeat of his first grand final, when the Swans were pipped by a point.

A single point stood between McVeigh and the 2006 premiership when West Coast gained revenge over the Swans for the previous season's grand final result.

The 27-year-old had missed out on selection for the 2005 grand final when the Swans broke a 72-year premiership drought.

While the likes of Jude Bolton and Adam Goodes have the highs of 2005 to reflect on this week, for McVeigh, Nick Malceski and Ted Richards there has been no premiership medal to console themselves with since the Eagles' stunning victory.

"Obviously it's very disappointing to lose a grand final. You still think about it, and it still hurts," McVeigh said ahead of Saturday's grand final against Hawthorn.

"I'm fortunate enough now to get another opportunity and I don't really want to waste that opportunity."

McVeigh has played his part in the Swans' immense development since last season, when they were outclassed by the Hawks in the second week of the finals.

"Not really [I haven't been surprised by the improvement], we played a few finals last year and we wanted to improve on that," he said.

"We've done that, but we're not happy with just making the grand final. We want to win it."

The Swans caused a major upset in round five when they downed the Hawks by 37 points in Launceston.

They also held a 38-point lead in the second quarter of the SCG clash in round 22, in which the visitors masterminded an epic come-from-behind win.

McVeigh says his side must reduce the quality of Lance Franklin's delivery, something they achieved with great success in the preliminary final when Collingwood spearhead Travis Cloke was starved of the ball.

"First and foremost is the pressure around the ball. Obviously they're highly skilled and can hit targets well," he said.

"So if we can pressure those kicks and get some spoils in with our defenders and midfielders - that goes a long way."

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, sydney-2000

First posted September 26, 2012 08:56:37

View the original article here

Swans' onballers must outdo Pies: McVeigh

Updated September 20, 2012 21:32:11

Sydney co-captain Jarrad McVeigh believes his side's midfielders must be more accountable if the Swans are to end an 11-match losing streak and overturn an eight-point loss to Collingwood in round 20.

The Swans had seven more scoring shots and eight more inside-50s than the Magpies in the August 11 match at the Olympic stadium, the same venue for Friday night's preliminary final.

Most of the stats were in the Swans' favour, but not the one that counted.

The clash has been thoroughly reviewed this week by the team, well aware of the grand final carrot dangling within reach.

McVeigh was in no doubt about where the game was lost.

"We probably got smacked in the midfield," McVeigh said ahead of the Swans' final training session for the week on Wednesday.

"That was one area we weren't too happy with, so we'll have to rectify that this week.

"We were too far off those guys and allowed them too much ball.

"Their midfield's been playing really well with (Dayne) Beams, (Dane) Swan, (Scott) Pendlebury - and (Dale) Thomas is back in form now.

"That's where their guns are, so we have to quell their influence and hurt them the other way."

To make matters worse for the Swans, Thomas was subbed out in the second quarter of that match and Swan did not play due to a club-imposed suspension for drinking.

Sydney was also guilty of wasting a handful of chances to win the game in the fourth term.

"We had a lot to improve on, and at the end of the game there were structural things we didn't get right as well in the heat of the moment," McVeigh said.

"So we can definitely improve, and they've improved as well so it's going to be a tight game I'd imagine."

While the home-ground advantage and a six-day turnaround are in the Swans' favour, finals experience is something the Magpies have in spades.

Only nine of the Swans' likely team for the grand-final play-off have featured in a preliminary final, as opposed to the bulk of Collingwood's squad.

McVeigh was confident his younger team-mates would perform on the big stage.

"They're pretty level-headed guys, we don't get ahead of ourselves," the 27-year-old said.

"They've been fine, they've played in finals in the last couple of years and got that experience."

Injured small forward Ben McGlynn engaged in only light jogging at the start of Wednesday's SCG training session.

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, sydney-2000

First posted September 19, 2012 16:28:24

View the original article here