Former GWS caretaker coach Mark McVeigh has chosen to leave the AFL club, seven weeks after missing out on the top job to Adam Kingsley.

McVeigh stepped in as interim for 13 matches this year after Leon Cameron’s departure and led the Giants to four wins and nine losses between rounds 10 and 23.

But it wasn’t enough to secure him the head coaching position ahead of former Richmond assistant Kingsley.

When Kingsley was appointed on August 22, chief executive Dave Matthews said the the Giants’ expectation was “that there is a long-term future here for Mark McVeigh”, working with the new coach.

McVeigh has instead chosen to leave after nine years at the expansion club.

“Mark has been a wonderful coach at our football club over a long period of time,” GWS football boss Jason McCartney said in a statement.

“He’s a person of great honesty and integrity and while we would have loved him to stay, the time is right for him to move on.

“We congratulate him on everything he has achieved so far in his coaching career and wish Mark and his family all the best for the future. He’ll always be part of building the Giants.” 

McVeigh, who played 232 games for Essendon, initially worked within GWS’ academy before becoming an assistant coach in 2015.

He later worked as a line coach with the backline and midfield before becoming Cameron’s senior assistant ahead of the 2022 season.