GWS interim coach Mark McVeigh has revealed that he is "ready" to take the reins in the top job should the club appoint him, despite spending just four weeks in the caretaker role.
Speaking on Wednesday, the 41-year-old confirmed that he was interested in the coaching gig, but was ready to support the club in whatever choice they made. Other names, including Alistair Clarkson and Nathan Buckley, have been heavily speculated as strong contenders for the top job at the Giants, but McVeigh is confident in his form thus far.
“I definitely feel ready. It’s only been a four-week snippet, but I felt like I’d done a lot of work to get here, whether you’re good enough, well we’ll wait and see but I certainly feel like I’m ready,” McVeigh said.
“Whatever happens with the coach next year I fully support the club. They’re going to make sure they interview the right people, which is absolutely right, and they’ll come out with the right person.”
McVeigh joined the Giants in 2015 in an assistant coaching role after 232 games across 14 years with Essendon. The former Bomber has his side playing with renewed vigour in the second half of the season following the resignation of Leon Cameron, winning two of his four matches in charge.
Coming up against Collingwood in Round 15, who have had to endure a week in the media spotlight, McVeigh said that he wasn't seeking wins to boost his standing in the coaching race, instead hoping to leave the club in good standing for next season, regardless of who will be in charge.
“I haven’t picked a team to try and boost my credentials, I think that would be the wrong mindset. I’m not that kind of person. I’d like to think I’m pretty humble and making sure I’m doing the best thing by our players and our footy club,” he said.
“If I was thinking the other way, I’m probably not the best person for the role. It’s obviously about winning, I want to win but we also want to play our players in their best position.”
“My main role is to make sure our club is in a really good spot come the end of the year and right now, it’s not where it needs to be.”
The Giants are set to regain former skipper Phil Davis for Sunday's clash, who has been sidelined for most of the season with a hamstring injury, alongside Tim Taranto who has overcome a back concern.
