‘A picture is worth a thousand words’: Wife of Sydney Swans star posts moving tribute as her husband retires on the third anniversary of their baby daughter’s death
- Jarrad McVeigh will retire from the AFL at Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday
- McVeigh’s final game is the same day as the anniversary of his first born’s death
- His wife Clementine shared emotional Instagram post in preparation for match
- Luella died in August 2011 due to complications just weeks after she was born
The wife of Sydney Swans star Jarrad McVeigh has shared a moving tribute as her husband retires from AFL on the anniversary of their newborn baby daughter’s death.
Clementine McVeigh said ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ as she shared a photo of the Swans veteran to mark his final game at Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.
The touching tribute congratulated McVeigh for his 15-year career in red and white and remembered their daughter Luella who died in August 2011 from heart complications just weeks after she was born.
Jarrad McVeigh with wife Clementine and daughters Lolita and Florence on August 1, McVeigh will retire from AFL on Saturday
Clementine McVeigh said ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ as she shared a photo of the Swans veteran to mark his final game at Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday
McVeigh kissed the black armband after celebrating a goal during the AFL Second Semi Final in September 2011 – weeks after his daughter died
‘This moment Jarrad kissed his ‘black arm band’ for our beautiful Luella after she passed,’ Ms McVeigh wrote.
‘Today my incredible husband will play his last game… the sport he loves so much he can’t even describe in words.
‘The passion and love he has put into the game/his career is a drive that is beyond what I could imagine.’
In what Ms McVeigh described as a sign from the universe, her husband’s final professional match is held on the same day her daughter took her last breath eight years ago.
‘Today is also the anniversary of our Luella’s passing… what are the chances of this,’ she wrote.
‘Maybe the universe made it this way… so today I shed tears for my baby girl, and shed tears for my husband’s incredible career.
The touching tribute congratulated McVeigh for his 15-year career in red and white and remembered their daughter Luella who died from heart complications weeks after she was born in 2011
McVeigh celebrates after winning the 2012 AFL Grand Final match with Clementine and his daughter Lolita, the year after Luella died
‘One door closes and another opens.’
Ms McVeigh also wrote she would likely have ‘extremely puffy eyes’ and smudged mascara but she’d be a ‘happy mess’ during the emotional day.
McVeigh, who announced his retirement this month, debuted for the Swans in 2004, wearing guernsey number three.
In the weeks after Luella’s death, McVeigh kissed his black armband after celebrating a goal during the AFL Second Semi Final in September 2011.
McVeigh and his wife went on two have two daughters Lolita and Florence.
Lolita was born in 2012 and McVeigh held her while he walked around the MCG to celebrate winning the 2012 Grand Final in a clash with the Hawthorn Hawks.
He will retire alongside teammate Kieren Jack, while Buddy Franklin will play his 300th game.
McVeigh and his wife have two daughters Lolita and Florence