BOMBER Mark McVeigh could have enjoyed a farewell game to celebrate the end of his career.
Instead the Essendon veteran, a 232-game servant, wanted his opportunity for a send-off to be taken by a rookie-listed player.
McVeigh officially announced his retirement at a media conference on Wednesday, after he addressed his Bombers teammates and told them his time was up.
Injuries to his hip, knee and hamstring have restricted the 31-year-old to only three games this season, and he felt it was the right time to finish.
"It's a decision that I've been to-ing and fro-ing with for about eight weeks. But I've been very fortunate to part ways with the club on really good terms," McVeigh told AFL.com.au.
"I've had a great time. I've had an unbelievable time on the field and off the field and I've made a lot of lifelong friends."
Those at Essendon know, however, that McVeigh's hopes for a finale to his 14-year career ended selflessly about three weeks ago.
Then, after hurting his hamstring when recovering from knee surgery, McVeigh approached coach James Hird and floated the idea of being placed on the club's long-term injury list so rookie midfielder Brendan Lee could be elevated to the senior list and make his AFL debut.
He knew this would end any chance of a farewell game, but was keener to see Lee picked.
"At the time I knew he'd been playing really good football in the VFL. I played a couple of games with him when I was coming back, and I thought he'd make a good go of it," McVeigh said.
"I could see the way he was working and he's a nice guy, so I spoke to 'Hirdy' and said 'How about putting me on the long-term injury list?' Hirdy said 'It's not a bad idea, and I'm not telling you to do it, but if you'd like to do it I will'." "I knew that was probably it for a farewell game, but at least the kid got to have a game off the rookie list."
It sums up McVeigh's enduring drive to push the club forward.
He was drafted to the Bombers with pick nine in the 1998 AFL Draft from Pennant Hills in Sydney.
His first captain was Hird, who finished as McVeigh's last coach and one of his best friends. In 1999, as the Bombers rose sharply up the ladder, McVeigh played nine games, but could only manage one in Essendon's 2000 premiership season, despite winning the reserves' best and fairest.
In 2001 he worked hard to establish his place in Essendon's defence and played 23 games, including the Grand Final loss to the Brisbane Lions. Essendon hasn't made it to a preliminary final, let alone a premiership decider, since then.
McVeigh doesn't dwell on the missed opportunities, instead happy to be a Bomber for life despite offers to return to Sydney.
"I'm proud that I'm a one-club player. I'm very proud of that fact," McVeigh said.
"I look back on it and I'm also proud of the culture that I may have helped create at the club, which is family-orientated and full of good people and very solid behaviour."
At his best through the 2006-08 period, McVeigh was a damaging midfielder who was tough, hard and had a precise left foot kick.
He was also a fierce leader, particularly as the club started its resurgence back up the ladder.
He played 23 games last year in a shift back to defence, and was planning to play this season as a defensive forward before injury curtailed those hopes.
McVeigh plans to move back to Sydney with his wife Leanne and one-year-old daughter Ariana. She is likely to join her dad as McVeigh leads the Bombers out onto the field at the MCG on Saturday night against Collingwood.
McVeigh is satisfied with that way to say goodbye. He thinks a lap of honour would be overdoing it, and wants to keep it brief. He's already comfortable with what he's given football, and what he's received in return.
"I came through a really good, strong era that has held me in good stead, and they taught me a lot about Essendon, what it means to be an Essendon player, and what it means to wear the jumper," McVeigh said.
"I've got heaps back from footy. It's been awesome."
Callum Twomey is a reporter for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter at @AFL_CalTwomey.
