Article up on MFC on Tom:

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2013-10-23/mcdonald-progresses-from-injuries-in-2013

McDonald has already played on some of the best key forwards in the business, with his fine performance against St Kilda superstar Nick Riewoldt in 2012, one of his best still.

But he still wants to keep playing on the best and overcoming them.

I really love the challenge of going against some guys who are the stars of the competition, as key forwards, he said.

If possible, I want to play on the best player possible, every week and challenge myself, so I really enjoy that part of it.

Really, really rate this kid and is more important to us than some give him credit for.

Going forward, and with what seems like an emergence of an era of key forwards (Boyd, Patton, Daniher, Cameron etc.) not to mention the already established veteran Key Forward stars, Tom will perhaps become a more important player for us (in some aspects) than Frawley.

Disposal needs work, but hey, if he can keep the above mentioned names to minimal goals, then he has done his job.

Yep I rate him highly too. Nothing better then having a good endurance backman that can run with the likes of Nick Reiwoldt and Josh Kennedy that just push forward and back constantly.

Kicking does need a bit of tidy up but hopefully that comes with more experience and learning from the likes of George Stone and Paul Roos.

I don't beleive that he is underrated by many here, if that is what you are alluding to.

His disposal is questioned - hopefully that will improve with time, maturity AND having multiple moving targets ahead of him, which he has lacked to date. Even Hawthorn's renowned HBs may look far less finessed were they to have only the one or two stationary targets upfield that Tom has had. It causes hesitation and uncertainty, and in today's fast game that is death

just teach him how to bloody kick and i'll be happy

I don't beleive that he is underrated by many here, if that is what you are alluding to.

His disposal is questioned - hopefully that will improve with time, maturity AND having multiple moving targets ahead of him, which he has lacked to date. Even Hawthorn's renowned HBs may look far less finessed were they to have only the one or two stationary targets upfield that Tom has had. It causes hesitation and uncertainty, and in today's fast game that is death

nah man, i said "some"

Whenever the issue of T Mac's kicking comes up, I think of that training footage when he was strapped up with the camera. He was hitting every single player on the chest over various distances. Granted there may have been some favourable editing, and training isn't the same as match day, but there's enough there to work upon.

One on one he is very good, albeit prone to the odd brain fade.

I'm pretty confident he will be a long term fixture of the back 6.

just teach him how to bloody kick and i'll be happy

So you'd be happy for him to allow his opponents to kick a bag of goals each game, but as long as he can kick good, then that is a job well done?

hmmmm.

P man ..ive been to training where hes played kick to kick (sorta ) with me.. Problem is, I wasnt on the paddock !! lol

it needs bettering..Is only part of his game that does.

So you'd be happy for him to allow his opponents to kick a bag of goals each game, but as long as he can kick good, then that is a job well done?

hmmmm.

not sure if being sarcy or what.

I rate him, just not his kicking. Needs fixing.. and Id be happy

P man ..ive been to training where hes played kick to kick (sorta ) with me.. Problem is, I wasnt on the paddock !! lol

it needs bettering..Is only part of his game that does.

haha..maybe he just wanted get you in the game mate. Nice of him.

haha..maybe he just wanted get you in the game mate. Nice of him.

maybe...lol

not sure if being sarcy or what.

I rate him, just not his kicking. Needs fixing.. and Id be happy

i don't even know anymore, the past 7 years have messed me up.

He's athletically excellent, one of the fittest players at the club and had a brilliant year in 2012. This year he wasn't bad..

His kicking is spoken of often, not going to rehash that debate however, he needs some serious work on his one on one efforts also. I couldn't pick anyone better to coach him than Roos, look at what he did with Ted Richards but it was frustrating how often in a marking contest he'd be beaten.

Has shown and has the potential to be a top 5 CHB in the league, but even listening to him talk he seems so passive and tame, which when up against the biggest strongest players in the league just won't cut it in 2014.

Not too worried about his passive persona. Look at Daniel Jackson. Supposedly the nicest guy in the league off the field Crosses the white line and becomes a crazed animal.

Being one of the younges back-man we have, in one of the most under-siege back-lines in the league, taken at pick 50 something; I think we can cut him some slack on his disposal.

He's already finished higher (3rd) in our best and fairest then some players have their whole career at the MFC. Definitely not underrated around here, well with me anyway, coming along very well and will be an integral part of the defense for a good part of the next 10 years.

If anything I think he is slightly overrated. A lot of people rate him on his potential, not his current output.

He is very very good for a young KPD, has a terrific tank and work ethic, but REALLY needs to work on his disposal and also get stronger.

i don't even know anymore, the past 7 years have messed me up.

Is this Cool Hand Luke? Great movie and great depiction of the last seven years. Although hopefully the ending for us is slightly different.

I'm not a fan. Happy to be proven wrong though

I don't mind him at all although I don't enjoy feeling like im having a stroke every time he goes to kick the ball. He needs to put in the extra yards and stay back after training ala scott west and brad johnson who used to put witches hats out at different distances until they hit them every time. He has so much potential and I am hoping his kicking improves so he can fully realise it.

Tom is a good defender with a good head on his shoulders. Once he improves his kicking efficiency he will become an excellent and a highly valued member of the team.

Rabbit in the headlights, poor disposal BUT has an engine, has heart, has some talent and COULD be a really good player for us.

He's not alone in the rabbit department as the pressure on our backs has been unrelenting. I am really looking fwd to seeing how they go when the ball isn't being kicked in there every 4.87 seconds. Then we can probably assess how good our guys are.

Strengths -

Can run all day (hes the Nick Riewoldt of CHB's)

Great height

Very long arms and great spoiler

Excellent in 1 on 1 contests even against bigger bodies

Great speed for a big man, both off the mark and closing speed

Loves taking the game on with runs through the middle

Shown brilliant form despite just turning 21

Weaknesses -

deplorable kick

The amount of strengths he has far outwigh his one big weakness.

Love this bloke.

I'm not a fan. Happy to be proven wrong though

Are you a fan of any current players because I look at the backline this year and the pressure they have had to wear ad T-Mac has rarely been beaten badly. I think in a better performing side and being able to find a second or two of space his displosal, like Frawley's and Garlands will improve. He can kick or he would not have made the draft.

I have the utmost respect for our backline six this year.

They will only get stronger.

He's a good defender on forwards with similar attributes.

At this stage you don't want to see the ball in his hands too often.