WINNING the clubs' best-and-fairest award, Sydney Swans midfielder Jarrad McVeigh scaled new heights last year and sees no reason why he can't do so again.
The 23-year-old has got off to the best of starts, setting personal best running times and improving his fitness levels over the pre-season.
"I really wanted to come back even fitter this year, which I did," McVeigh said. "Not missing any sessions throughout the whole pre-season helped me into a good season last year, so I've done that.
"I'm doing everything that is required and then some.
"I've set probably PBs in every single one of my runs. I'm just looking to improve in that area to keep running all day.
"We've all been doing a lot of work on our skills as a team, which we all needed to work on, which I think has improved a lot."
McVeigh played every game in 2008 with only Brett Kirk and Jude Bolton winning more of the ball. He was also third in the Swans' goalkicking, behind Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin.
Along with forward Jarred Moore (22), and half-back Nick Malceski (24), McVeigh was one of three younger players voted onto the club's new nine-man leadership group this week.
"It will be a very good learning experience for us and what direction we want the club to go in and have a few different ideas," McVeigh said.
Malceski described his election to the group as a great honour and hoped for even greater leadership responsibilities in coming years.
"When you're a young guy and watching AFL and you are looking at all the captains for the footy clubs you always want to be a captain," Malceski said.
"I love this football club, I respect everything that they are. I'd love to be a captain one day."
Malceski amazed the football world last year, making a comeback just two months into the season after undergoing ground-breaking surgery on an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in February.
He played 11 games for the Swans and was bullish about his fitness heading into a new campaign.
"I'm running the best I've ran," Malceski said.
"Doing my knee last year, I did a pre-season after I did that which gave me two (pre-seasons). So I've had three in the last year, which helps out the body.
"The body is feeling good."
