Tom McDonald - underrated.

[hardtack 10,149]

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

Could never look a hard boiled egg in the eye again after watching that movie.

[robbo24 66]

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.

Played a very good game against Riewoldt in 2012. However it was extremely wet and not a night for tall forwards. Has done nothing to suggest he will be a good lock down defender for years to come. Gives away stupid free kicks, is clumsy and has shocking skills. I will acknowledge he is young and there is improvement left in him. Happy for him to prove me wrong, but I feel he is greatly overrated.

[Bay Riffin 1,426]

Played a very good game against Riewoldt in 2012. However it was extremely wet and not a night for tall forwards. Has done nothing to suggest he will be a good lock down defender for years to come. Gives away stupid free kicks, is clumsy and has shocking skills. I will acknowledge he is young and there is improvement left in him. Happy for him to prove me wrong, but I feel he is greatly overrated.

If we won more of the ball he and Frawley could be so damaging on the burst. He has a good turn of speed for a big guy. I wish he could 'lock down' more on his oppenent one on one though, but that can come with time.

Yes needs to work on disposal but we have something to work with here.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

If there is a more talented young player in our team that has had to suffer and endure the shortcomings of our rancid game plan and third world midfield it's been McDonald.

It's terrible environment where the opposition midfield is running all over yours creating inside 50s a plenty. On the flip side when you do get the ball typically under siege in the back half there are few if at all legit passing options.

He has performed admirably given the situation and circumstances. The relentless pressure took is toll on some aspects of McDonalds game but I expect under a good and competent coach, we should see this player mature and blossom.

He is a better player than most give credit for.

[demonchris 162]

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.

Poor bloke has to deal with the Intra club matches too!

[Yossarian 1,808]

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2014-05-13/new-breed-of-key-defenders?utm_medium=RSS

Nice to see Tom McDonald starting to get some recognition outside the club.

[DeeZee 6,853]

All Australian contention with those stats.

Number one in the AFL for spoils, and equal first for winning one on one contests.

[nutbean 8,837]

I dont think his decision making is bad as some suggest but he does need to clean up a bit of his disposal skills.

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

21 years old, starting to own that key-back position already. Work on your composure and delivery Tom and you will make All Australian one day.
Our players are starting to get recognition from the media, other clubs etc. (Tyson, Jones, Mcdonald, Frawley, JKH etc.)
This means we are finally compiling a list with players that other clubs are worried about, and are heading towards being elite/known players in the AFL. This is unprecedented for us the past 7 years. Times are a changing.

[Wormburner 674]

Great player, just wish he had a better kick on him.

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

21 years old, starting to own that key-back position already. Work on your composure and delivery Tom and you will make All Australian one day. Look at this, amazing:

This season, McDonald, 21, has played on Nick Riewoldt (who kicked three on McDonald when the Demon suffered a bad corkie), Jack Darling, Jeremy Cameron, Lachie Henderson, Tom Lynch, Lance Franklin, James Podsiadly and Liam Jones. Only Riewoldt managed more than two goals.

Our players are starting to get recognition from the media, other clubs etc. (Tyson, Jones, Mcdonald, Frawley, JKH etc.)

This means we are finally compiling a list with players that other clubs are worried about, and are heading towards being elite/known players in the AFL. This is unprecedented for us the past 7 years. Times are a changing.

[Bay Riffin 1,426]

All Australian contention with those stats.

Number one in the AFL for spoils, and equal first for winning one on one contests.

Yet there are still people on here who want him dropped.

[mcduff 21]

only have to look at tom's one percenters to see how many goals he has prevented,... huge amount of spoils each and every week, about three times the afl average, watch his long arm come up every time he is near the ball... and remember he had a shoulder reco at the end of the last season!

[dimmy 1,145]

The good thing about him is that he may not be the gun shearer, but turns up for work every day !!

You have to admire him,he thinks every time his oponent gets a kick/mark he kicks himself in the head. . However he does not lose the next contest ,does he ??

The kicking will come when he realises how much time he has. Experience.

Actually the back 6 has enabled us to move James F up the ground (plus we have got two Bakment who can play fwd : DUnne & Garland)

[MadAsHell 4,089]

OOC at years end. Would like to think he'll sign on soon.

1.5mill over 4 years is about fair I reckon. Takes him up to free agent status.

[Yossarian 1,808]

Tom's currently ranked number 1 in the league for total 1%s, number 3 on average per game. Definitely coming into his own this year.

[Ted Lasso 17,123]

Tom will attract alot of interest , as will Dunn now it's a simply equation for us, improve or lose these blokes