GIANTS assistant coach Mark McVeigh has been unveiled as part of the All-Stars coaching panel for the AFL State of Origin match for bushfire relief later this month. 

The former Essendon Bomber, who first joined the GIANTS’ coaching staff for the 2014 season as Academy head coach before transitioning to an assistant coaching role with the club’s AFL side, will be part of a six-man All-Stars coaching group under the leadership of Swans head coach John Longmire.

Stuart Dew (Gold Coast Suns head coach), Michael Voss (Port Adelaide assistant), Joel Corey (Western Bulldogs assistant) and Dean Cox (Swans assistant) fill out the remainder of the group.

The All-Stars will take on Victoria in State of Origin match at Marvel Stadium on February 28, as part of a double-header with the NAB AFL Women’s clash between Collingwood and Melbourne.

All-Stars

Role                             All-Stars                      AFL Club
Senior Coach               John Longmire            Sydney Swans
Assistant Coach          Mark McVeigh             GIANTS
Assistant Coach          Stuart Dew                 Gold Coast Suns
Assistant Coach          Michael Voss               Port Adelaide
Assistant Coach         Joel Corey                  Western Bulldogs
Assistant Coach          Dean Cox                   Sydney Swans

Victoria

Role                             Victoria                       AFL Club
Senior Coach               Damien Hardwick        Richmond
Assistant Coach          Alastair Clarkson          Hawthorn
Assistant Coach          Adam Kingsley             Richmond
Assistant Coach          Robert Harvey             Collingwood
Assistant Coach          Dean Solomon             Gold Coast Suns

The match is set to bring together some of the biggest names in the game across both coaching and playing ranks.

AFL General Manager of Football Steve Hocking said the wealth of coaching experience on both panels further demonstrated the clubs’ passion to make the event a successful one for all affected by the bushfires. 

“Since we announced he event, the buy-in from the clubs, players and coaches, from both the AFLW and AFL competitions, has been exceptional,” he said.

“We are coming together for an important event and (to) raise valuable funds, and I know that when the ball is bounced, the competitive juices of these coaches will kick in and we will get a great contest.”

The playing squads will be announced on Tuesday, with up to five GIANTS expected to be named across the two teams. 

All proceeds from ticket sales for the match and any additional donations will go into a Community Relief Fund set up by the AFL to support local communities in fire-affected areas to repair and rebuild their football clubs, including helping footballing families in the impacted communities.

The initiative supports the $2.5m already donated by the AFL, its 18 clubs and AFL/AFLW players through the AFL Players’ Association. 

Event details
Friday, February 28
Marvel Stadium 

5.40pm AEDT
NAB AFL Women’s
Collingwood v Melbourne

7.50pm
State of Origin for Bushfire Relief
Victoria v All-Stars

Tickets are now available through Ticketmaster here.