Was named today by Jade Rawlings in an interview on SEN as the most likely of the 'unknowns' to have an impact in the side this year. He also thought that Tynan would most likely play a few games.

I heard that there was really exciting talk about him last year as a great future player. I hope so. He is relatively tall and considering that he has put in a decent preseason, with a good fitness base, he provides Neeld a few options of where to play him.

if this bloke can have a year like sam reid then we have a genuine gun on our hands!

Love the Bloke, i really liked him down back last season in his 2 games. He has obviously worked on his fitness lately and as he continues to put on muscle and build strength could really become a weapon.

The thing that i worry about is that he hasnt found a position, that we know of yet, with Neeld trying him forward.....put him somewhere and let him settle.

I'd prefer a Ben Reid. Not sure why he has been training in a fwd role when he was doing great down back at Casey last year, and we recruited Clark/Willams/Sheehan, and already have Cook has tall fwd prospects.

This kid is a real gem and will play a big role this year i think.

Copped my wrath early tonight, but ended up in my top six players on the ground. Really learned quickly from his mistakes on Riewoldt, which I absolutely love.

Big ask to play on NR with less than 10 games under his belt. Thought he stood up, got involved and did well. Assignments like that will do him no harm at all. Reasonable effort from most tonight. Defence good, mids much better, forwards still not there.

Big ask to play on NR with less than 10 games under his belt. Thought he stood up, got involved and did well. Assignments like that will do him no harm at all. Reasonable effort from most tonight. Defence good, mids much better, forwards still not there.

Good post.

I think Dunn, Watts and Sellar are all in danger next week.

Tom McDonald v Nick Riewoldt was an inspired move. Who else has the tank to run with him?

It was super-impressive and T-Macs disposal was a huge improvement on last week(s).

It begs the question:

McDonald has just been taught by the mistro about how to run and run and run in the forward line.

Riewoldt couldn't get away from him.

Do we now play McDonald in the forward line given he has some grounding in the forward line (preseason x 2 and Casey) and that he now knows how to run his opponent into the ground or does he stay in the the back line, learning his craft?

I know the commentators thought McDonald was good but his first half was deplorable. The conditions didn't suit key forwards

Tom McDonald v Nick Riewoldt was an inspired move. Who else has the tank to run with him?

It was super-impressive and T-Macs disposal was a huge improvement on last week(s).

It begs the question:

McDonald has just been taught by the mistro about how to run and run and run in the forward line.

Riewoldt couldn't get away from him.

Do we now play McDonald in the forward line given he has some grounding in the forward line (preseason x 2 and Casey) and that he now knows how to run his opponent into the ground or does he stay in the the back line, learning his craft?

Not yet, let him adjust & grow at his speed, down back. We'll know when he's ready to move forward.

The only problem for me is, he's keeping out Davis whilst down back.

His first half was hardly deplorable. Errors will come as he's a genuine key position sized bloke playing in just his 6th game and he isn't known for his skills. Frawley copped a bit early as well.

I'm happy for McDonald to spend most of his time down back. He can stay in with Joel Macdonald replaced by Frawley. However we need to develop a CHF as well. So what I'd probably like to see is a bit of a rotation between him and Watts as CHF/3rd tall down back.

Great Game Tom. 19 years old. He can do it.

Tom McDonald v Nick Riewoldt was an inspired move. Who else has the tank to run with him?

It was super-impressive and T-Macs disposal was a huge improvement on last week(s).

It begs the question:

McDonald has just been taught by the mistro about how to run and run and run in the forward line.

Riewoldt couldn't get away from him.

Do we now play McDonald in the forward line given he has some grounding in the forward line (preseason x 2 and Casey) and that he now knows how to run his opponent into the ground or does he stay in the the back line, learning his craft?

I love it, we might have found the second KPD that we crave, one that may free up Frawley to be an attacking defensive player and our first reaction is to send them forward?

This is as silly as the Frawley to forward line trial imo......

Tom Mac started off poorly like last week, but really came good, yeah Riewoldt could have had 1 or 2 more but he didnt, spoiled a few good ones, nice volley kick at one point and as mentioned has a great tank to play on the Big CHF of the competition.

Disposal improved also

His first half was hardly deplorable. Errors will come as he's a genuine key position sized bloke playing in just his 6th game and he isn't known for his skills. Frawley copped a bit early as well.

I'm happy for McDonald to spend most of his time down back. He can stay in with Joel Macdonald replaced by Frawley. However we need to develop a CHF as well. So what I'd probably like to see is a bit of a rotation between him and Watts as CHF/3rd tall down back.

I dont want to [censored] a dead horse but i hope that our CHF will be Cook in 1 years time, or so

every time he touched the ball in the first half he basically turned it over. Though many had the same problem, i cringed a lot, which means he got the ball a lot (so he has no trouble finding the thing).

i would play tom mcdonald as a defender all of this year as a learning curve on the big key forwards and big names reiwoldt jonathon brown etc and learn as much as possible and then next year pin that center half forward position as his own. will put on some more bulk as he alreay looks solid enough.

great game though!

His 73% disposal efficiency compared well with the team's 61%

Freak.

lol

Not yet, let him adjust & grow at his speed, down back. We'll know when he's ready to move forward. The only problem for me is, he's keeping out Davis whilst down back.

Sort of nice problem to have really, both can match up on bigger players , both can run, both play with spirit. Can't have too many of that type. (With Tynan, Frawley & Grimes the back half shopuld be pretty good over time - Refer Geelong). The attack at the ball and ability to finish up the other end is a problem at the moment, but we will soon have a few options with Clark, Jurrah ,Green and a fitter Silvia. Would also like to see a dangerous Trengove playing a Silvia like role there as well. He played a beauty against Essendon in that role last year.

I know the commentators thought McDonald was good but his first half was deplorable. The conditions didn't suit key forwards

Deplorable? A 6 gamer vs reiwolt and you reckon it was deplorable?

do you open you eyes when you watch the game?

Tom kept up with him, got lost only a few times, was not out-bodied and was not blown up on the run. He grew in confidence across the game. Seriously...

Played a very good game, did the one thing that annoys me the most of anything, in the last quarter he spoiled grimes, dropped his knee in he back and punched it to the front of the pack where grimes' opponent at the time Goddard. Although Goddard didn't kick the goal as a defender punch it towards the boundary, or just take a look and call grimes in for the mark! But his fitness really showed in a game that really was suited for defenders

It was quite a good game by any standards and for a 19 year old with a dozen games, it was excellent.

Reiwoldts early goal where he marked by himself was because Tom ran ahead to create a 2 on 1, but we turned it over and the kick found Reiwold with no opponent. He will learn from that.

But it seemed to me the contest was decided on Toms actions and he started to play more tightly and when he did, he won the contest at the end of the day.

Its very important we develop a tall or two from the 2010 draft as we went for talls. 2 are currently travelling ok in McDonald and Howe and reckon Davis looks a likely type as a big bodied half back.

But Tom is the one body out of that draft who i can definitely see playing key position.

His draft position also dictates if he plays 10 games + he will be well above average.

I've always liked this kid, great attitude, wants to learn and take on the game. He's comong along nicely.