A return to the midfield, a dodgy knee, and Sydney’s season being on the line proved the elixir for an outstanding best-on-ground performance from co-captain Jarrad McVeigh on Saturday night that personified AFL leadership.

McVeigh carried a calf issue into week one of the finals and suffered a painful knee injury in the reigning premiers’ 54-point capitulation to Hawthorn.

The 28-year-old was not bothered by either source of pain, but rather the Swans’ performance against the Hawks which left him “embarrassed”.

The response was clinical in Saturday night’s 24-point win over Carlton at ANZ Stadium that thrust Sydney into a preliminary final against Fremantle in Perth.

On paper it was McVeigh’s career-best 42 disposals.

In reality, it was far more.

“He’s developed into just a superb leader,” Swans coach John Longmire said of McVeigh.

“He really knows his football and he just digs deep. He’s got an enormous amount of resilience and he’s fantastic off the ground too.”

McVeigh has spent most of this season in defence, filling the void left by rebounding defenders Rhyce Shaw (injured) and Marty Mattner (retired), but against Carlton he was pitched into the middle again.

“He adapted to that role so well, and he hadn’t done it for quite a while,” Longmire added.

By all rights the stoic skipper should have been in some doubt for the match, given he was hobbled during the week and didn’t train.

Longmire knew better than to worry.

“No, never,” was Longmire’s blunt response when asked if he was ever in any doubt.

McVeigh gathered 20 possessions in an incredible second quarter that turned the match and left plenty in awe, including young gun Luke Parker.

“It shows what a quality player he is and what a great leader he is, to stand up in games like this,” Parker said.