Pennant Hills favourite sons Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack to leave the game together
Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack played at the same junior club and they will retire from the game at the same time when they play their final match at the SCG.
Sydney
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It might not help the grass grow out in the middle of Ern Holmes Oval, but there’s something in the water at Pennant Hills.
One of NSW’s most fertile AFL nurseries will farewell two of its favourite sons – Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack.
Pennant Hills Demons junior coach Peter Jack oversaw their development into future Swans co-captains, All Australians, and members of the Greatest NSW team of all time.
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Watching from the dusty sidelines at Ern Holmes in Sydney’s North West has for more than a decade been replaced with cheering from the stands at the SCG.
Peter Jack – no relation to Kieren, but known affectionately as his long-lost uncle – remembers when McVeigh had hair.
And the memories haven’t faded.
“He did. It was curly like anything. It stood out on the ground, each time,” Jack said.
“The thing that stood out for me with him was his great little shimmy. He was able to baulk and put a lot of players off. His ability to just be able to put the ball in the right space and be in the right place at the right time was just excellent.
“With Kieren, we stood back and watched a little bit. Only because we share the same surname.
“But to see his development from when he was a young lad that played rugby league, to develop into the player he is today is just a tribute to his will to want to do it.”
Pennant Hills has also produced another NSW All Time great Lenny Hayes, as well as McVeigh’s brother Mark, and Kieren Jack’s little brother, Brandon.
Peter Jack and his wife will be at the players’ race to say goodbye today – after all, family is family.
“To be honest with you, I think the success of the club is it’s family orientated,” he said.
“It’s always based around family values and it was always about giving the kids an opportunity, but above all letting the kids actually enjoy their football.”
The significance of McVeigh and Kieren Jack being born out of the same junior club roots, isn’t lost on either man.
“I still remember the day Jarrad got drafted. I was in year 10 and it was in the paper. He was an inspiration for me,” Kieren said. “It’s just a tight-knit club. It’s been remarkable that the talent has come through there.”
McVeigh’s parents Margaret and Tony would drive him down the M1 from the Central Coast every Saturday. And he savours those memories of arriving at the games already dressed in his gear.
“Kieren and I are extremely proud of that,” he said.
“We always talk about it. It’s amazing we’ll finish together after starting all those years ago. Although we were a couple of years apart, it’s definitely been our whole careers together.”
JACK COULD ONE DAY RUN THE SWANS
Kieren Jack has revealed his next goal in football is to one day run an AFL club.
Teammates used to take the mickey out of Jack for burying his head in books on away trips as he completed an MBA, but it’s not so funny now that he could one day end up being the Sydney Swans boss.
Jack’s final two seasons leading up to Saturday’s retirement have been plagued by a degenerative hip and he is destined to undergo a ‘half-hip replacement’, the same surgery tennis star Andy Murray had earlier this year.
But Jack still wants to kick goals in the AFL. Only from behind a desk in the front office.
“My ultimate goal is I’d love to run a footy club. I’d love to get in the admin side of it and actually run a footy club,” said Jack.
“I’m not going to walk straight into something like that. But there’s certainly contacts like Tom Harley (Swans CEO) who I’m talking to and trying to figure out something, and some roles that can suit me.
“I’m really excited about going forward. If it’s (work) at this club it would be great. But I just want to finish the footy stuff off first.”
The 32-year-old has also received guidance from two of the best in the business, Swans chairman Andrew Pridham and former chief executive, Andrew Ireland. Swans coach John Longmire said not many footballers could complete a business degree and excel at AFL level like Jack has done.
“Even when we were travelling, ‘Kizza’ would be in the front row with Nick Smith, having their study books out, doing that while we’re flying to Melbourne,” said fellow retiree, Jarrad McVeigh.
“We were all laughing and joking and these guys are sorting themselves out. We laughed at the time but it was pretty incredible to see.”
McVeigh on the other hand will slot straight onto Longmire’s coaching staff next season, and says he will arrive in the chair with some fresh ideas.
“I’ve learnt a lot from all our coaches over the years and I’ve got my own thoughts around footy,” he said.