Sydney stalwart Jarrad McVeigh will play on for a 17th AFL season after signing a one-year deal with the club.
Essendon and Gold Coast were rumoured to be interested in the 33-year-old but the former co-captain will remain at the Swans for at least another season.
“Jarrad’s been exceptional for us again this year, he’s an outstanding leader and for him to continue for another season is a great result for all,” Swans head of football Tom Harley said on Thursday.
McVeigh, who was drafted in 2002 and made his debut in 2014, has played 318 games, placing him third on the Swans’ all-time list behind former teammates Adam Goodes (370) and Jude Bolton (325).
While he has had a number of soft tissue injuries in recent years, the defender remains one of the Swans’ most influential players.
He has played 18 games this year, impressing with his invariably accurate disposal under pressure and and organisational skills on the half back line.
McVeigh didn’t play in the 2005 grand final winning team but was in the side the following year when it lost the season decider to West Coast.
He was co-captain of the 2012 premiership-winning side and and also played in the 2014 and 2016 grand final grand final losses to Hawthorn.
When he plays in the elimination final against GWS on Saturday week, McVeigh will join Goodes in having played 28 finals matches, the most by any Swans player.
It will also move him up to joint 10th on the VFL-AFL list for most finals played.
He is a two-time club best and fairest, and has also won All-Australian and International Rules representation.