Tweet
McVeigh can go all way for Swans
By TIM MORRISSEY
February 16, 2004
JARRAD McVeigh was the standout performer in Sydney's first hitout of the season but the young midfielder still looked like a boy among men yesterday morning when the Swans stripped down at Clovelly Beach.
"He's not Superman," said Swans coach Paul Roos as the players went through the ritual recovery session after Saturday's exhibition match against Essendon at North Sydney Oval.
But Roos isn't worried if the fifth pick overall of the 2002 AFL draft can't leap over tall defenders or run faster than a speeding Sherrin.
"Jarrad's an elite runner and he's got all the tools to become a good midfielder," Roos said.
McVeigh developed those tools growing up at Forresters Beach on the Central Coast trying to outdo his older brother Mark in the backyard.
Long into the day the McVeigh boys would kick the footy against a trampoline with a big bullseye painted on it.
It paid off for Mark who was drafted by Essendon in 1998 and has since made a strong impression in the AFL as a crucial part of the Bombers' midfield.
"It's been a long time since we did that together," admitted McVeigh.
"Mark's in his fifth year at Essendon now but it was fun to get out there in the backyard and do all that stuff together, we are pretty close.
"I probably speak to him every day and we did talk about how I went and that on Saturday.
"He's a great help to me because he's been there done all of the stuff I want to do.
"We'd love to play together, obviously it hasn't worked out that way so far but hopefully in a few years time."
When McVeigh first arrived at the Swans after the 2002 draft in November he looked more like he was ready to run a marathon than play AFL.
However, since an impressive run in the reserves last season the 18-year-old has bulked up six kilos and on Saturday in Sydney's 11-point loss to the Bombers McVeigh clearly looked like he's ready to play senior footy. "He's still not Superman, he's still quite thin but at least now he's starting to fill out into a man's body," said Roos.
"We'd expect Jarrad next year to put on even more weight.
"He hasn't got lightening pace and he hasn't got Michael Voss-type size so he has the potential to be like a Simon Black
"[The Brisbane Brownlow medallist] is a 15-plus beep test player who just keeps running and works and works.
"I think that's the type of game he's going to have to play. He's a real running player.
"He certainly showed on Saturday that he's prepared to do it."
When the Swans first drafted McVeigh there was talk he was going to be the kid to eventually fill the enormous hole left by Paul Kelly's retirement. He's not worried by those expectations.
"I'm not feeling any pressure going into this season, I'm just out here to play some good footy," said McVeigh.
"I had a good time, it was a bit hot out there but it was good to play all right in the first game of the season."
As if scripted, the kid had an immediate impact on Saturday's match -- kicking the first goal although he admits there was a bit of luck involved.
"It was a bit of a fluke, I was trying to go for a goal over the top -- but fortunately it rolled through which is all right," said McVeigh, who got a good report card from his coach after the game.
"Roosy just said I did all the things that I was expected to do and that's all you can ask.
"I've put things in place with what I want to achieve this year with the goals I've set.
"I've put on some weight, I've been training well. I've just got to play well with every opportunity I get."
McVeigh's next chance to push for senior selection will be on Sunday when the Swans host Carlton at Telstra Stadium in the first round of the pre-season Wizard Cup.
By TIM MORRISSEY
February 16, 2004
JARRAD McVeigh was the standout performer in Sydney's first hitout of the season but the young midfielder still looked like a boy among men yesterday morning when the Swans stripped down at Clovelly Beach.
"He's not Superman," said Swans coach Paul Roos as the players went through the ritual recovery session after Saturday's exhibition match against Essendon at North Sydney Oval.
But Roos isn't worried if the fifth pick overall of the 2002 AFL draft can't leap over tall defenders or run faster than a speeding Sherrin.
"Jarrad's an elite runner and he's got all the tools to become a good midfielder," Roos said.
McVeigh developed those tools growing up at Forresters Beach on the Central Coast trying to outdo his older brother Mark in the backyard.
Long into the day the McVeigh boys would kick the footy against a trampoline with a big bullseye painted on it.
It paid off for Mark who was drafted by Essendon in 1998 and has since made a strong impression in the AFL as a crucial part of the Bombers' midfield.
"It's been a long time since we did that together," admitted McVeigh.
"Mark's in his fifth year at Essendon now but it was fun to get out there in the backyard and do all that stuff together, we are pretty close.
"I probably speak to him every day and we did talk about how I went and that on Saturday.
"He's a great help to me because he's been there done all of the stuff I want to do.
"We'd love to play together, obviously it hasn't worked out that way so far but hopefully in a few years time."
When McVeigh first arrived at the Swans after the 2002 draft in November he looked more like he was ready to run a marathon than play AFL.
However, since an impressive run in the reserves last season the 18-year-old has bulked up six kilos and on Saturday in Sydney's 11-point loss to the Bombers McVeigh clearly looked like he's ready to play senior footy. "He's still not Superman, he's still quite thin but at least now he's starting to fill out into a man's body," said Roos.
"We'd expect Jarrad next year to put on even more weight.
"He hasn't got lightening pace and he hasn't got Michael Voss-type size so he has the potential to be like a Simon Black
"[The Brisbane Brownlow medallist] is a 15-plus beep test player who just keeps running and works and works.
"I think that's the type of game he's going to have to play. He's a real running player.
"He certainly showed on Saturday that he's prepared to do it."
When the Swans first drafted McVeigh there was talk he was going to be the kid to eventually fill the enormous hole left by Paul Kelly's retirement. He's not worried by those expectations.
"I'm not feeling any pressure going into this season, I'm just out here to play some good footy," said McVeigh.
"I had a good time, it was a bit hot out there but it was good to play all right in the first game of the season."
As if scripted, the kid had an immediate impact on Saturday's match -- kicking the first goal although he admits there was a bit of luck involved.
"It was a bit of a fluke, I was trying to go for a goal over the top -- but fortunately it rolled through which is all right," said McVeigh, who got a good report card from his coach after the game.
"Roosy just said I did all the things that I was expected to do and that's all you can ask.
"I've put things in place with what I want to achieve this year with the goals I've set.
"I've put on some weight, I've been training well. I've just got to play well with every opportunity I get."
McVeigh's next chance to push for senior selection will be on Sunday when the Swans host Carlton at Telstra Stadium in the first round of the pre-season Wizard Cup.
Comment