For most Essendon supporters, Sunday's exhibition match is the first chance to check out the team and an opportunity to get an indication of what is ahead for the forthcoming season. But for one family, the match has a completely different significance. The McVeigh family from Tumbi Umbi on the surf coast of NSW will travel to North Sydney Oval to watch their two sons do battle against one another for the first time.

Essendon's Mark McVeigh will play against his 18-year-old brother Jarrad, who will make his debut for the Sydney Swans. Jarrad,18, was drafted by the Sydney Swans with their first draft pick in the AFL 2002 National Draft .""The entire family is coming to watch the match. They are really looking forward to it. I am not sure who they are barracking for though, I suppose they just want us both to do well,"" Mark McVeigh said.

Mark McVeigh swapped his surfboard for the Sherrin, and a career in the AFL in 1998 when he was drafted to the Bombers. He has played 57 senior games including the 2001 Grand Final and although he misses the relaxed lifestyle of Tumbi Umbi, says that Essendon is his home at the moment. “It is a great club and I have lots of fantastic friends here. I get to go home a few times through the year, so I don’t get homesick anymore,” McVeigh said.

Mark McVeigh has had an exceptional pre-season for the Bombers and was impressive in the club's intra-club match last weekend at La Trobe University. McVeigh played the majority of the match in the mid-field and notched up After playing every game in 2002, the coaching staff are expecting McVeigh to grab hold of the mid-field opportunities this season with the departure of Chris Heffernan, Justin Blumfield and Blake Caracella.

Bomber supporters can check McVeigh’s form out on Sunday, along with the rest of the Essendon team. Essendon supporters in NSW are encouraged to get along to the exhibition match and support the black and red in its first match for 2003. Pre-match the Essendon Bombers will be presented to the crowd at 2pm. This will be followed by an AFL Auskick clinic and autograph session from 2.30-3.30pm. The match will begin at 4pm.

Tickets are available from Ticketek by phoning 9266 4800, on the internet at www.ticketek.com, through Ticketek outlets, or on match day unless sold out prior.

Prices are: Adult GA $10, Children under 15 free, Pen/Student $5 and Family GA (2 adults and 2 children) $20.
Stand seating is available also in the Bob Stand and O'Reilly Stand - Adult Stand $15, Child Stand $5, Pen/Student Stand $8, and Family Stand $35.
The above prices does not include the Ticketek booking fee.