Stats show Jarrad McVeigh is crucial to Sydney Swans’ success
HE might be 33 and not as fast as he once was but Sydney need to sign Jarrad McVeigh for another year. Neil Cordy writes the equation is simple — when he plays they win most of the time.
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HE’s 33 years old, the legs aren’t as fast as they used to be — but when Jarrad McVeigh takes the field, the Sydney Swans are almost twice as likely to win than without him.
For that reason alone, the Swans need to sign him up for another year.
Over the past two seasons, Sydney have won 21 of their 28 matches (75 per cent) when McVeigh is playing, and closing out just six from 15 (40 per cent) when he’s not.
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His three-week absence last month with a broken collarbone was a perfect example of what happens when the Swans are without him. They lost to Geelong in round 16 and then dug deep for one of the wins of the year against North Melbourne. The Swans then played their worst game of the year, losing to Gold Coast at the SCG.
His leadership, cool head and ball distribution were sorely missed.
Thankfully for coach John Longmire, he made a speedy recovery from injury and was able to line up in the heroic two-point win over Collingwood last Saturday night.
McVeigh wants to play on and 2005 premiership hero Leo Barry, for one, is backing his ability. He still remembers seeing a young McVeigh tag Ben Cousins at the peak of his abilities and stick to the task despite being run ragged by the West Coast champ.
“I reckon Jarrad should definitely play on,” Barry told The Daily Telegraph.
“He’s one of their most crucial players. If you can’t move the ball efficiently out of your backline, it breaks down and you can’t get it into the forward line.
“The Swans have certainly found a problem with that when he’s been out, especially with Callum Mills out for the year.
“We rebound from very deep and our inability to get the ball out has cost us games,” Barry said.
“Over the last 10 years, the Swans have had players like Tadhg Kennelly, Nick Malceski and Rhyce Shaw, who have the ability to break the lines and hit targets.
“I think they’re as important as key forwards.”
McVeigh was linked with the Gold Coast Suns earlier in the year but Sydney football manager Tom Harley said the former co-captain is going nowhere and will be at the SCG in 2019 and onwards as either a player or coach.
“He is a club legend,” Harley said. “He is one of those rare players who contributes on and off the field in equal space.
“His position will always be respected and that extends to the way we discuss his future.
“He has a long-term career at the club in coaching. The shorter-term focus is around his playing and that conversation is ongoing.”
Dan Hannebery, Gary Rohan, Dean Towers and Darcy Cameron have been included in a 25 man squad to take on Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.
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