Jared McVeigh speech inspired Sydney Swans

Sydney midfielder Daniel Hannebery says a rousing three-quarter time speech from Jarrad McVeigh ultimately played a big part in getting the Swans over the line in Saturday's thrilling grand final victory over Hawthorn.

In a big momentum shift, Hawthorn kicked five of the last six goals in the third quarter as they turned a 28-point deficit early in the term into a one-point lead at the last change.

And, while the Hawks scored the first two goals of the final term in what looked a match-winning two-minute burst, the Swans rallied once again from 12 points down to boot the game's last four majors as they secured their fifth premiership in a dramatic finale.

In a classy performance that belied his 21 years, Hannebery had a hand in Nick Malceski's match-winning goal with 34 seconds remaining, although that was one of just 29 touches Hannebery had for the day.

But the young midfielder said despite his efforts it was still co-captain McVeigh leading the charge as the Swans looked to settle the nerves at three-quarter time."Macca gave us a really good three-quarter time speech," Hannebery recounted."(He) said, 'leave nothing out there. How much do you want this cup?'"And we all roared that we wanted it and that last quarter was one of the great last quarters."I'm probably too young to appreciate how good this feels, there's guys that have been around a long time and know it only comes around once, guys like McVeigh, (Ted) Richards, Malceski missed out in '06."(They) really told us that you don't get the opportunity often and three-quarter time that rang through and every bloke in that last quarter just gave every single ounce of energy they had.
"And to get over the line is going to be so sweet for a number of years."While McVeigh was doing the speeches, other Swans were doing their part all over the ground, with another co-captain in Adam Goodes defying a serious PCL injury in the second quarter as he remained out on the ground, hurling his body into contests and scoring one of the last four goals.As Shane Mumford fought off a hamstring twinge, Richards also battled on against Lance Franklin despite an ankle injury, while Hannebery himself suffered a corked thigh and hip after claiming a breathtakingly courageous mark with the flight during the first quarter. "They're unbelievable," Lewis Jetta said when asked about the injured players' efforts."To still play and have all them injuries, credit to them. They're going to be my brothers for the rest of my life."Along with the Swans hurt during the game on Saturday, veteran Jude Bolton went into game 301 with a serious cloud over him as reports emerged he was playing with a torn ACL and PCL that he suffered last month against Carlton.Those same reports suggested Bolton may retire after the grand final as he looked at a full knee reconstruction, but the veteran said stories of his retirement were premature."I won't need surgery on the knee," Bolton told the AFL website."It was a partial ACL and partial PCL, but there was enough to hang in there."