Although he has impressed with his work ethic and approach to training, McVeigh said Tippett would be treated like any other player would be after a long lay-off.
"He has to earn that first game and when he does [he will] have earned it," McVeigh said. "We don't give games away easily."
The defending premiers recruited Tippett from Adelaide through the pre-season draft after he indicated he wanted to join them soon after season 2012.
However his transfer was delayed when he was charged with conduct prejudicial to the draft and for breaching total player payment rules.
He subsequently received a 22-game suspension with 11 games of the suspension suspended for the next five years and fined $50,000.
McVeigh said Tippett has fitted in well, with the leadership group endorsing the club's decision to recruit him when the prospect was raised.
The arrival of Tippett is not the only significant change the Swans have made leading into 2013.
It has also appointed Kieren Jack as co-captain alongside McVeigh to replace Adam Goodes, who decided to hand over the captaincy while he plays out his final years.
McVeigh said he spoke to Jack when he was appointed and said he did not need to change anything now that he was captain, telling him: "The reason you were put in the position is that you do most stuff right all the time."
"He's not a massive voice out there but he's hard at the footy," McVeigh said. "He runs really hard and trains hard. We respect the way he goes about it."
Asked how much of the role Jack would take on in his first year as co-captain, McVeigh grinned: "I'll try to hand a bit off to him."
