Jarrad McVeigh.

Match winner: Jarrad McVeigh shows the way against Carlton in last week's semi-final. Photo: Getty Images

He might not have spilt as much blood as Joel Selwood, have the power to inflict physical pain like Luke Hodge or own a swag of medals like Gary Ablett, but few at Sydney dare suggest Jarrad McVeigh does not belong in that esteemed company.

It may have taken the rest of the football public until last weekend to truly appreciate McVeigh's leadership, but the premiership captain was deeply admired inside the SCG long before he put Carlton to the sword.

When John Longmire took over from Paul Roos as Swans coach he saw McVeigh as the ''obvious'' candidate to succeed Brett Kirk and Craig Bolton as Adam Goodes' co-captain.

What struck Longmire the most about the man his older teammates used to call ''Grommet'' was his mental toughness, which the coach says is ''right up there'' with the coach's former teammates Anthony Stevens, Glenn Archer and Wayne Carey and, more recently, his own player Jude Bolton.

''He's got a great strength of mind,'' Longmire said.

''His ability to deal with pressure and all sorts of things on and off the field is a real credit to him.''

Like most great leaders, McVeigh's worth cannot be measured in kicks and handpasses alone, though the Blues might disagree.

Off the field he sets the example for his teammates. When the Swans started pre-season last summer, McVeigh had come back in the ''best possible shape of any'', Longmire said.

On the field, he acts as another coach, directing his teammates, telling them where to run and where to stand.

''He's one of the blokes you can talk to during the course of a game and he knows what's going on,'' Longmire said.

''He really picks up what's happening and he's able to get things done that we want done as coaches … he sees he game so clearly.''

His on-field guidance, and the leadership of fellow co-captain Kieren Jack and other senior players, has been invaluable for Longmire in a year in which the Swans have blooded so many youngsters.

''The way he goes about it, his voice and instruction on the field, he's massive to our side,'' said teenager Harry Cunningham, who is in his second season of league football.

Occasionally, McVeigh said, terse words can be exchanged in the heat of battle, but sometimes there is no other way.

''We're all like that out there, guys are blunt and harsh to me, but it's not personal,'' McVeigh said.

''It's just 'get it done out there' because we're all trying to win and we're all competitive. It's not harsh, it's what I see and I live by that.

''If it's the wrong decision then it's the wrong decision, but I'd rather say something than not do anything.''

McVeigh's desire to succeed was apparent from the moment he walked into the club in 2002 as a highly rated No.5 draft pick. Craig Bolton can still remember the ''little skinny kid with long hair'' who used to tag along with his brother, former Bomber Mark McVeigh, to state training sessions as a junior.

''We used to call him Grommet because he was a little surfer,'' said Bolton, who played 170 games for the Swans from 2003-10.

''To see him come to the club as a young draftee and now when I look at him I see a player who I respect immensely and has grown into a great player, great person and a great leader.

''Because he had such high standards he'd get frustrated with people who weren't at his level [at the start] but he's learnt to be really selfless.

''He's a player that's so well respected. I've never seen a player demand so much of himself and as a result of that he also demands that of his teammates and he's been able to do that in the right way.

''He's a player who strives for excellence and he's got a really high standard for everything. He's a player that makes everyone else get on the same page as him.

''He's become a really, really valued leader and as influential as any other leader in the last 10 years at the Swans.''

There were few arguments when Selwood was named All-Australian captain this week though McVeigh would also have been a worthy candidate.

''He's been sensational the moment he was announced captain,'' Longmire said.

''He's really grown into the role to the point he's just such a clinical driver of our club and what we're about. He's been fantastic.''