Sydney midfielder Jarrad McVeigh scaled new AFL heights last year.

And the reigning Swans best and fairest winner sees no reason why he can't do so again in 2009.

The 23-year-old has got off to the best of starts, setting personal best running times and improving his fitness levels.

"I really wanted to come back even fitter this year, which I did," said McVeigh, whose goals tally of 32 in 2008 placed him third behind regular key forwards Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin.

"Not missing any sessions throughout the whole pre-season helped me into a good season last year, so I've done that.

"I'm doing everything that is required, and then some.

"I've set probably PBs in every single one of my runs. I'm just looking to improve in that area to keep running all day.

"We've all been doing a lot of work on our skills as a team, which we all needed to work on, which I think has improved a lot."

Along with forward Jarred Moore 22, and half-back Nick Malceski 24, McVeigh was one of three younger players voted onto the club's new nine-man leadership group this week.

"It will be a very good learning experience for us and what direction we want the club to go in and have a few different ideas," McVeigh said.

Malceski described his election to the group as a great honour and hoped for even greater leadership responsibilities in coming years.

"When you're a young guy and watching AFL and you are looking at all the captains for the footy clubs you always want to be a captain," Malceski said.

"I love this football club, I respect everything that they are. I'd love to be a captain one day."

Malceski amazed the footballing world last year, when he made a comeback just two months into the campaign after undergoing ground-breaking surgery on an anterior cruciate ligament knee injury he suffered in a pre-season game.

He finished up playing 11 senior games and was bullish about his fitness heading into a new campaign.

"I'm running the best I've ran," Malceski said.

"Doing my knee last year, I did a pre-season after I did that, which gave me two (pre-seasons), so I've had three in the last year, which helps out the body.

"The body is feeling good."

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