Jarrad McVeigh could miss local derby against GWS

SWANS co-captain Jarrad McVeigh could miss the GWS Giants clash as he and wife Clementine nervously await the arrival of their second child.

Jarrad McVeigh

SWANS co-captain Jarrad McVeigh could miss next Saturday night's local derby against the GWS Giants as he and wife Clementine nervously await the arrival of their second child.

McVeigh, who tragically lost baby daughter Luella last July, will obviously put the birth of his new child before a game of football.

"I wasn't sure if I was going to play (against Geelong) because I'm on call at the moment," McVeigh said.

"I had to give my phone to Dennis Carroll (former Swans captain and player welfare manager) on the bench just to make sure before we ran out. Obviously I got to play and I'm still waiting now."

Jarrad and Clementine lost Luella after a month-long battle with a heart problem.

Luella passed away leading up to last year's round 23 match against Geelong. His team-mates wore black arm bands and produced a stirring effort to end the Cats' 29-game unbeaten run on their home ground in one of the wins of the season.

"We can't wait and I'm sure Clementine is sick of it now, so we're just looking forward to the baby coming," McVeigh said.

McVeigh had his telephone close at hand as he spoke at the Swans' recovery session at Bondi yesterday.

He and his team-mates are now turning their attention to the GWS Giants, who they will face for the second time this year at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

"It's going to be a tough game, they've really improved throughout the whole year," McVeigh said.

"From round 1, when we played them, they've been in a lot of games and probably could have won a lot. It's inexperience, I guess, and you have more experienced bodies to play against.

"They're a really good team and they haven't got the wins on the board yet, but they're really hard at the footy and we will have to really be on our game."

The Swans co-captain can see a lot of similarities between the Swans and their neighbours, who play a very similar brand of contested football.

"That's where the game is headed now," McVeigh said.

"If you can't win contested footy now you'll find it hard to win games.

"Credit to them (for the way they play) and it will hold them in good stead for the rest of their careers."

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