Saturday's defeat to Fremantle at Manuka Oval marked the end of Mark McVeigh's interim stint in charge of the GIANTS, finishing with four wins and nine losses from 13 games. He remains hopeful of winning the job permanently.

"Loved it," he said.

"It's been amazing. Great support from players and staff. Really enjoyed it. You have some difficult moments which I've enjoyed trying to work through them.

"Enjoyed the Monday-to-Friday grind. Couldn’t have enjoyed it anymore to be honest. It's been great.

"The process is there. I keep working through it. The club is obviously doing everything they can to identify their next senior coach. I fully support that.

"The candidates that remain are incredible candidates. They are wonderful coaches that have been in really successful environments. Whoever is successful is going to do an amazing job."

McVeigh also played a straight bat at questions about assistant James Hird's appetite to return to senior coaching amid links with the Essendon job after the Bombers missed out on Alastair Clarkson.

"You'd have to ask him," McVeigh said about Hird. "I've got no idea."

He also praised young key defender Sam Taylor, who enhanced his All-Australian case with 20 disposals and a game-high 12 intercepts.

"He's had an extraordinary year for a lot of reasons," McVeigh said. "From my point of view, he's a marvel to coach.

"He's just a competitor. He doesn’t give up. He wants to win. He's an exceptional young player."