NEWLY re-signed Sydney veteran Jarrad McVeigh never really entertained a move to play under close mate Stuart Dew at Gold Coast next season.

McVeigh will remain at the Swans in 2019 after signing a one-year contract extension on Thursday.

The new deal ends speculation over his future and will see him don the red and white for a 17th season.

GET TO THE GAME All your finals ticketing info

The 33-year-old has played 318 games for the Swans, placing him third behind former teammates Adam Goodes (372) and Jude Bolton (325) on the all-time list.

His contract status and relationship with former Sydney assistant Dew sparked talk that the veteran might choose to finish his career at the Suns, if he wasn't offered a new contract by Sydney coach John Longmire.

But McVeigh said leaving the Swans and moving his young family to another city wasn't an option.

"I'm pretty close with Stuey and I speak to him regularly, but no offers were put to me from anyone," he said.

"I want to be a one-club player, I value that pretty highly, and I'm pretty happy that's what I'll be."

Longmire spoke on radio earlier this year and said that in his mind, McVeigh would be retiring at the end of 2018.

But the gun defender's form over the back half of the year forced a re-think, and he holds no ill feelings towards his coach for the comments.

"We speak all the time about those sorts of things, and getting your head around what's next, or what might be next," McVeigh said.

"It was about where the list is at and all those scenarios, and I've been involved on those sorts of things before being captain of the club.

"We're in constant contact and it got to a point where I said, 'look I want to get this done now, what are you thinking?', and we were all on the same page."

McVeigh struggled with calf and hamstring issues last year but has averaged 21.5 possessions in 18 games this season with his form enough to tell him he was right to keep playing at the highest level.

"A lot of people have told me when you know you're going to retire, you know, and I haven't reached that point yet," he said.

"I've always been pretty strong-willed, and (the decision) was never about that, it was more the body side of things.

"This pre-season was the first I've had for three or four years, so I think my form has been to a high standard and I'm rapt to be going around again next year.

"I knew going into the season that it could be my last, but I didn't want to go in thinking like that, because then you might play like that.

"I wanted to play with a chip on my shoulder so to speak, and deal with it at the back end of the year.

"If I was playing good footy then it was a good decision but if I wasn't, it would be a pretty easy decision also."

While McVeigh is locked away, fellow defender Jake Lloyd remains without a contract beyond 2018, with a host of clubs chasing the signature of the All Australian nominee.

Fellow veteran Heath Grundy's future beyond this season is also undecided, but McVeigh backed his 2012 premiership teammate to continue his role alongside him next season.

"His form has been pretty good all year," he said.

"There were a few games there that we didn't have a match-up for him, but he's been the real strength of our backline group.

"I'd like to see him go on for sure."

Podcast: The flop of the season

Find AFL Exchange on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.