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Career Profile

He suffered an ankle injury during pre-season training in 2000, missing seven weeks and returning to the VFL in Round 4. He won his spot back in the seniors in Round 22, finishing with one senior game for the year but winning the VFL team's Best and Fairest award.

McVeigh took a significant step in his career in 2001 playing 23 games with the seniors and kicking 18 goals. His role was generally as a tagger which he performed well. In 2001 he polled 107 Best and Fairest votes in nine games and was a nomination for the Ansett Rising Star award, finishing third overall. He also won the Club's Most Improved award and was on the interchange bench in the 2001 Grand Final loss to Brisbane.

He played every game in 2002, and although he spent a considerable amount of time on the bench, he played with more self-confidence than in the past.

McVeigh played all 24 games in 2003, proving himself to be a classy backman with the ability to effectively tag opposition forwards and use his creativity and running ability to set up attacking moves.

2004 was another successful year for him as he improved with every game, and became one of his side's most reliable backmen and important players. Towards the end of the season he made the move into the midfield with great success. He played 18 games, finishing ninth in the Club's Best and Fairest award. His season was topped off by being named in the International Rules team to represent Australia v Ireland.

He only missed one senior game in 2005 (through suspension) and he was a solid contributor throughout the year proceeding to take on a leadership role for the team.

McVeigh missed just one game in 2006 (knee injury) and excelled in defence or whenever given more freedom in the midfield.

He had a superb 2007 season to be equal third (with Scott Lucas) in the Club's Best and Fairest award. He was often used as a tagger, but won plenty of the ball himself and became regarded as a fine midfielder in his own right.

McVeigh is very highly regarded at the Club. He plays with great passion and exuberance, flies for his marks with courage and tackles with ferocity. He has the ability to kick vital goals and is a superbly accurate kick. He is a determined and consistent player.

His brother, Jarrod, plays with Sydney.

Draft history:1998 National AFL Draft , 1st round selection (Essendon) No. 9 overall.
Player honours: International Rules Series 2004
AFL Rising Star nominee 2001
Teal Cup NSW-ACT 1998
AIS-AFL Gaelic tour of Ireland 1998
Player Honours:: 3rd Best and Fairest (equal) 2007
Best Clubman 2007
Cheer squad award 2001, 2007
Mark of the year 2005, 2007
Most improved player 2001
VFL Best and Fairest 2000
VFL premiership player 1999
Career Brownlow votes: 10

View Mark's profile in our Past Player database

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