Mark ‘Spike’ McVeigh commenced his AFL playing career at Essendon in 1999, leaving Pennant Hills Demons at 18 as the number 9 pick in the National Draft.

As one of the club’s main contributors playing in 12 finals including the losing 2001 Grand Final and known as an uncompromising and relentlessly tough competitor, McVeigh retired in 2012 having played 232 games and scoring 107 goals.

Mark’s coaching career began in a developmental role with NSW/ACT Rams then head at the Giants Academy before transitioning into an assistant role at GWS from 2015 and caretaker senior coach in 2022.

He joined the Sydney Swans in 2023 as Academy Head Coach of the U18 Male program and led the Allies in the National Championships to their first ever National title.

Ahead of the 2024 season Mark steps up as into an assistant coach role with the AFL team.