Swan’s baby omen

WHEN it comes to omens this is about as good as it gets for Sydney fans.

Jarrad and Clementine McVeigh have another baby girl, Florence, who was born on Tuesday.

When their daughter Lolita-Luella was born five years ago she featured in one of the memorable photos as her parent cradled her in their arms minutes after Sydney won the 2012 premiership.

Only 12 months earlier the McVeighs had lost their firstborn, Luella, who died from heart complications when she was only weeks old.

Florence’s birth will mean a double celebration for the Swans great who will play his 300th game in tomorrow night’s semi-final against Geelong at the MCG.

“The week has started off pretty well,” McVeigh said.

“Everyone is healthy and happy, after training I’ll head back to the hospital.”

The happy result takes care of any issues of where the Swans defender needs be on Friday. With two daughters the McVeighs could have candidates for the AFLW when Sydney starts its team.

“With two father-daughters that will be coming soon,” he said.

Early in the season the 300game milestone looked to be a long way off when McVeigh played only two games in the first 14 rounds because of calf injuries.

But since his return in Round 15, against Melbourne, he has not missed a beat, averaging more than 20 possessions a game as he led the Swans’ defence.

His form earned him a oneyear contract extension last week.

McVeigh becomes only the fourth Swan to chalk up a triple century of games following Adam Goodes (372), Jude Bolton (325) and Michael O’Loughlin (303).

“The club means the world to me,” he said.

“To come out of school and be drafted, and get to stay home was fantastic.

“I learned so much through the older players who were at the club when I arrived. I looked at the best trainers and the best players and lived in their pockets the whole time and learned so much from them. Paul Williams, Stuart Maxfield, ‘Kirky’ (Brett Kirk), ‘Goodsey’ and Barry Hall. I owe a lot of that to those guys. Other than my family they’ve taught everything I know.”

Hopes are high the Swans can make the great week for McVeigh even better with a win over Geelong.

The Swans have defeated the Cats in their past three outings, including last year’s preliminary final at the MCG.

“We’re too smart to think Geelong won’t bounce back really well,” McVeigh said.

“They were bagged in the media when they lost to Essendon and then had about 140 tackles against the Western Bulldogs. We respect them and have for a long time and rate them very highly.”