Toast Jarrad McVeigh

[BarneyBent]

Well, after a fairly unremarkable start to the season, a certain much maligned co-captain has really lifted his game in the past weeks. Props have gone out to Jack, Hannebery, ROK, etc for picking up their games, but not much mention has been made of Bedford's favourite player. From Rd 11, against the Bombers, McElite has been averaging:

30 disposals per game
17 kicks per game
12 contested possessions per game
5 inside 50s per game
4 rebound 50s per game
4 clearances per game
5 marks per game
0.8 goals per game

While he used to be purely an outside player, and was even pushed out of the midfield rotations late last year and early this year, he has come back with a bang, and is performing as the genuine inside/outside player we all hoped he could be. With 12 contested possessions and 4 clearances a game, he's doing some solid inside work, but his run and spread to pick up the rest uncontested and gather 5 marks a game has been a really valuable contributor to our increasingly recognised and respected run and carry, and he's sending the ball inside 50 a lot as well. He's covering huge amounts of ground, with 4 rebound 50s to go with his inside 50s and clearances, and his goalkicking has picked up as well, with 4 goals from the last 5 games. His kick to handball ratio is fantastic, and makes his disposals that much more telling.

Basically, he's become a fantastic allrounder for us. Let's hope this form can continue!

 

[MF]

He's been through hell over the past 18 months and for all the criticism levelled against him the past it takes a special kind of person to come through a period like that even better than before.

He's a worthy captain.

 

[swansfan51]

Definitely the best McVeigh

 

[disgruntled goat]

Definitely the best McVeigh

No argument there ... in the best, most authoritative form of his career ... as MalChump said, now a worthy captain.

 

[Riders of Rohan]

His form has been the catalyst for our last few weeks imo. It seems when he has a blinder, we play very well.

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Thread lacks bedford.

Seriously though, I think it's easy for us to underestimate the impact that the death of his baby had on his state of mind and therefore his preparation for every match. Yes he can say all the right things and we all assume he's tougher than most because he's captain, but he's still a person and still a father that lost his first baby. You can't measure how devastating that is.

It doesn't surprise me that it's taken quite some time for him to return to his best, in fact I expected it would take longer. We're a better team with McVeigh firing and I have a lot of faith in him leading the team to become the best it can be.

 

[Jeffers]

Awesome form. His elite decision making in the midfield chain is making a huge difference.

 

[Gongswan]

Thread lacks bedford.

Seriously though, I think it's easy for us to underestimate the impact that the death of his baby had on his state of mind and therefore his preparation for every match. Yes he can say all the right things and we all assume he's tougher than most because he's captain, but he's still a person and still a father that lost his first baby. You can't measure how devastating that is.

It doesn't surprise me that it's taken quite some time for him to return to his best, in fact I expected it would take longer. We're a better team with McVeigh firing and I have a lot of faith in him leading the team to become the best it can be.

This

 

[AG]

Bump. On fire and nearly career best form over the last two months. I'd be surprised if the B&F winner doesn't come from Kennedy, Jack or Richards but McVeigh is the sort of player who could sneak up and pinch his 2nd Bob Skilton.

Playing like a captain.

 

[S120]

Indeed. You know that he will receive more votes in the B&F in the first 2 months than the BF consensus would have you believe. And as you say, over the last 2 months there has been no better Swan. Kieren and him have been right on par for much of it probably and if I had to pick one as our best during our winning streak, I'd have to go with McVeigh.

Definitely a sneaky chance at his 2nd Skilton Medal. It would take him to keep this up right into the finals for him to topple Kennedy, Jack and Ted but he is playing brilliantly.

 

[CAS79]

Did very well today including the physical play that he has been bagged for so much.

 

[VanBerlo=God]

He was pretty good today, got in the right areas and cleared up our error-prone defence.
Glad he's finally turned it on the last couple of years and moved from crummy tagger to elite midfielder. I feel that he embodies the new Sydney Swans and his captaincy is a benefit to the club.

 

[Bonz]

He is certainly becoming a bit of a barometer for us at the moment...

When he picks up his work around the stoppages the whole team seems to fire around him... Was inspirational at times today...

Worthy captain!!!

 

[Maddhew]

Has hasn't been much maligned for 5 years.

He is having his best ever season though.

 

[Dangas]

Real leader of the footy club!

 

[bedford]

Real leader of the footy club!

I don't know what that means as we have had Skilton, Kelly , Round and Kirk who are true leaders.
He now has played 5 super games in a row and for the 1st time ever he looks and is playing to his top 10 potential. The head is over the footy and he is kicking the crucial goals that he would have missed in the past.
Today at the footy i was calling out well done Macca.
Its great for him and the club and on here for all the posters who have stuck up for him .

 

[bungee]

After Pendlebury named him the best disposer of the ball in the AFL I watched him carefully today. It's true, the quality of his disposals is just outstanding. It's not cheap touches and wild kicks. He hits a Swan, the right Swan, almost every time. During our panic phase (late 2nd term) he consistently got the ball into the right hands. went hard as nails at the ball and seemed to be always back in time to defend or to spread to receive. He's always shown great potential but this last couple of months he really has become an elite player. As a leader he really stood up when Goodes was out and continues to do so. Goodesy isn't back to full flight yet but having Jarrad pick up the leadership must be a real boon to him as he works his way back to touch. If we make the Granny I'll guarantee he'll play his best game ever. The man is hungry for Swans success and he's infected the team.

 

[GotTheGoodes]

Yep, Macca has been great and congrats to him for lifting and leading by example. Just like all our great leaders, he bleeds red and white. I can't see how you don't get shivers listening to his speech at the totc/jumper presentation earlier this year. Has shown a strength and determination both on and off the field and should be regarded as highly as his teammates and opposition seem to regard him. As a champion and worthy captain.

 

[bloodsbigot]

After Pendlebury named him the best disposer of the ball in the AFL I watched him carefully today. It's true, the quality of his disposals is just outstanding. It's not cheap touches and wild kicks. He hits a Swan, the right Swan, almost every time. During our panic phase (late 2nd term) he consistently got the ball into the right hands. went hard as nails at the ball and seemed to be always back in time to defend or to spread to receive. He's always shown great potential but this last couple of months he really has become an elite player. As a leader he really stood up when Goodes was out and continues to do so. Goodesy isn't back to full flight yet but having Jarrad pick up the leadership must be a real boon to him as he works his way back to touch. If we make the Granny I'll guarantee he'll play his best game ever. The man is hungry for Swans success and he's infected the team.

Yeah, this. He's a very determined guy.

 

[bedford]

As they should have, because he had been overated for along time, not anymore

 

[Jeffers]

Elite.Decision Making....Elite.

 

[NobleBlood]

I always thought he was a worthy captain and was criticised unfairly last year. A few people were calling him "McVanish" despite averaging more disposals in 2011 than he had in 2010. When I saw him kick 4 goals (mostly against the flow of play) against Collingwood last year in that close defeat, it seemed clear to me that he was a leader.

One of my favourite players and Im pleased hes having a good year. Maybe he can kick 4 against the pies this week?

 

[TRAWP]

McVeigh has always been one of those blokes who tries and tries, I think last year was the year everything clicked for him. His football, his leadership and it's all reflected into this year. With Goodesy by his side you have two blokes who can lead by example at any time.

 

[bedford]

McVeigh has always been one of those blokes who tries and tries, I think last year was the year everything clicked for him. His football, his leadership and it's all reflected into this year. With Goodesy by his side you have two blokes who can lead by example at any time.

He might have tried and tried but it took him 80 odd games to perform at a decent standard

 

[TRAWP]

He might have tried and tried but it took him 80 odd games to perform at a decent standard

It may have, and a lot of players do take 50-100 games to play at any level. I'll cop 80 games on the chin to perform for another 150 at a superior level.