Is he a Junior Mac, or Big Mac?

Mc Oz

I hereby copyright the nickname

Mc Oz

I hereby copyright the nickname

Good get!

It obvious - Fries

? Nuggets

Given that Oscar is a little bit bigger, would there be a possibility that he could pinch ruck as well? It would make a lot of sense if he could.

It's been many years since we had McDonald brothers playing together at Melbourne.

This is such a lovely pick up.

I know nothing about the qualities of draft picks, but this makes me happy.

Hear, hear....

Just watched the highlights; this lad is the pick of them all. Believe me folks, I said the same about Viv Richards at the Melbourne Test in 1974.

Knightmare on Oscar McDonald ~

Oscar McDonald (VIC – KPD)

Height: 196cm, Weight: 88kg, DOB: 18/03/1996

Recruited from: North Ballarat

Draft range: 30-70

Best position/role: Centre half back.

Strengths:

1v1 ability – McDonald has the strength to hold his position in the contest and consistently win the 1v1 contests, often outbodying opponents in the contest and generally reading the flight of the ball better. He often takes 1v1 marks and makes the right choices as to whether he can take the mark or needs to get the spoil in.

Ability to read the flight of the ball – McDonald is excellent at reading the flight of the ball anticipating where the ball will go and getting there for the easy intercept mark. He makes good decisions as to when he can leave his direct opponent for the intercept mark or when he needs to stay with them. He also in the 1v1 contest reads it superbly, reading the drop of the ball and protecting the drop of the ball for the easy mark.

Movement and athleticism – McDonald for a tall moves very well. He is very mobile for his height and has very good agility. He has very good closing speed and can stay with opposition forwards. His endurance is excellent, staying with his opponents and covering the ground well over the course of games. He also has a good leap on him and is competitive and able to get stops in the air whether that be a spoil or mark.

Ability to limit the influence of direct opponent – He is a good height, has the strength to beat his opponents 1v1 in the contest, is good in the air and can shut down his opponents on the lead. The one knock defensively from a shutdown perspective is his second and third efforts can at times be slow and mean he can at times get exposed against if the ball goes to ground and his opponent is quicker following up the ball at ground level.

Rebounding from the back half – McDonald is generally a relatively efficient user of the ball from the back half. He can hit his targets up the ground and at times will kick low, long passes up the ground and be the one starting the offense himself with his drive out of the back half. He is also at times willing when the opportunity is there to provide some run and carry out of the back half.

TAC Cup form – McDonald has had a terrific season at TAC Cup level and was rightly awarded the TAC Cup coaches award. He had a consistent season and has the performances on the board as one of the best performed if not the best performed key defender this year between his ability to negate the influence of his direct opponents and to take intercept marks and provide rebound himself.

Versatility – While McDonald is best suited as a key defender he has also shown that he can go forward and as required kick a goal. He is relatively clean with his pickups at ground level, tackles strongly and reads it well coming into the front half so while it is not something I would necessarily want him to have to do regularly at AFL level it is something as required he can do.

Weaknesses:

Slow when it hits the deck and slow second and third efforts – The main time McDonald gets exposed is when the ball hits the deck, he can at times be slow reacting and if his opponent is a quicker ground level player he can get exposed. Also his second and third efforts are not up to the expected standard at this stage; as good as he moves he lacks that quickness reacting at times to get to that next ball and then move onto that next play quickly enough.

No U18 Championships games – McDonald as terrific as he has been through the TAC Cup has not received the opportunity to play through the U18 Championships and missed that opportunity to play against the better competition in the country and as a result his form may be less exposed compared to some other draft prospects.

What I expect will improve:

I expect McDonald largely will continue to improve his two way game as a stopper and rebounder and to continue his natural development.

Who he can become?

I see McDonald developing into something like a poor man’s Alex Rance as someone who can beat his direct opponent but also be involved as a rebounder from the back half.

When will he be ready to play?

McDonald could receive senior opportunities as early as season two but I anticipate in season three if the opportunity is there that he establishes himself as a regular best 22 player for a team.

How to best utilise him?

McDonald is best utilised at centre half back.

Interpretation of his numbers:

McDonald’s numbers have been excellent at TAC Cup level by position. He finds plenty of the ball. Takes his mark per game and contested mark per game numbers are excellent by position. His ball use has generally been relatively efficient. He has also done a terrific job limiting the influence of his direct opponents and stopping them from achieving their usual numbers and influence on games.

his highlights are good, especially when he goes forward, only issue I saw was that he seemed a bit lackadaisical running/strolling out of defense which may work at lower levels but will not work at AFL. He needs to work on that. looks a very good pickup

I was on the edge of my seat waiting for pick 40.

He made it through and we didn't call his name!

I was a bit disappointed. So happy we got him at 53!

I was on the edge of my seat waiting for pick 40.

He made it through and we didn't call his name!

I was a bit disappointed. So happy we got him at 53!

The same for me. I was waiting, absolutely sure we'd be calling him at 40 if he lasted. I was gutted when they didn't and then somehow he slipped all the way to 53. I have no idea how that happened except that a few players were available later than anticipated due to a few surprises from Carlton and the Doggies. I have to give credit to the team for getting things right given that he did fall all the way down and we still got our man. Obviously they had a pretty good idea of how things were going to pan out.

The same for me. I was waiting, absolutely sure we'd be calling him at 40 if he lasted. I was gutted when they didn't and then somehow he slipped all the way to 53. I have no idea how that happened except that a few players were available later than anticipated due to a few surprises from Carlton and the Doggies. I have to give credit to the team for getting things right given that he did fall all the way down and we still got our man. Obviously they had a pretty good idea of how things were going to pan out.

Competence.

Andrew Bevan ‏@BevanAbevan Nov 16

@emmasq what range do you see Oscar McDonald going??

Emma Quayle ‏@emmasq Nov 16

@BevanAbevan 20s or 30s. Big improver!

And from Callum Twomey's phantom draft:

OSCAR McDONALD – 18/3/96, 196cm, 84kg, North Ballarat Rebels

Clubs' late interest in McDonald was evident in the fact he was upgraded to attend the national draft combine at Etihad Stadium, having previously only been invited to the state screening. The tall defender is a good option for clubs trying to find his type: he's strong and tough, disciplined and works hard. He had a consistent second half of the season despite not featuring in Vic Country's under-18 team, and has had a number of recruiters push him up in recent weeks. The Kangaroos are interested, they placed a bid on Brisbane Lions academy tall defender Harris Andrews, and it looks an area to bolster.

Beyond a steal. This is theft that could see us locked away for the next decade.

Tommy would be absolutely tickle pink I reckon.

Tommy would be absolutely tickle pink I reckon.

You'd be pumped...but also a tad worried with Frost and Oscar now, all around the same age. Usually only 3 spots for key defenders in a team! The Wakelin's together was such a failure in the end they both left (and had great ends to their careers). That said it doesn't sound like either of the McDonald boys are scared of a battle!

You'd be pumped...but also a tad worried with Frost and Oscar now, all around the same age. Usually only 3 spots for key defenders in a team! The Wakelin's together was such a failure in the end they both left (and had great ends to their careers). That said it doesn't sound like either of the McDonald boys are scared of a battle!

Could also spur the boys on to perform.

Will have to wait and c what happens.

I wouldn't mind if they developed Oscar as a Gunston style forward, big engine, tall, can mark and kick goals... according to his highlights.

In case people have forgotten, this is the write-up from Cardona's phantom draft:

Pick 25: North Melbourne – Oscar McDonald

Position: Key defender/forward
Height: 196 cm, Weight: 88 kg, DOB: 18/03/1996
Club: North Ballarat
Plays like: Jackson Trengove

Oscar McDonald is one of the better key defenders I am really bullish about in terms of advancing to the next level. He is tall and athletic, and also picks off numerous forward 50 entries with his tremendous ability to take intercept marks and rebound strongly. Best described as a general in defence, McDonald, the younger brother of Melbourne’s Tom, is extremely versatile as a defender, and, unlike most key defenders, he loves to back himself and use the ball by foot. He hits the ball flat and hard, and has a really nice turn of foot, being deceptively quick over his first few steps. The Rebels have also used him as a key forward, where he’s shown he can be equally as damaging. He has a fantastic leap, strong hands, really good work rate and rarely ever goes to ground. I’m a big fan of the way he loves to play in front of his man, often a few metres ahead. Simply, he’s a super smart footballer, and led the TAC Cup competition for contested marks this year. Taking home the coaches award in the TAC Cup, McDonald took big scalps throughout the year, including Darcy Moore, Peter Wright and Paddy McCartin.

Hellishly good pickup at 53.

Pretty happy - find it really interesting in the bits and pieces I've read that he kicks it 'low and hard' or 'low and long' - much like Tom does, he's always kicking sharp / lengthy stab passes. Did they grow up on a farm covered in Gum Trees or something where they needed to keep the ball low? Great to hear he can push forward as well.

How the F does a bloke slip 20-30 spots and land at the same pick and same club as his brother, has to be fate

Pretty happy - find it really interesting in the bits and pieces I've read that he kicks it 'low and hard' or 'low and long' - much like Tom does, he's always kicking sharp / lengthy stab passes. Did they grow up on a farm covered in Gum Trees or something where they needed to keep the ball low? Great to hear he can push forward as well.

Everyone should kick low and hard from the backline. As long as you dont kick it right in to the opposition it gives your leading forward or mid the safest chance of marking it or at least forcing a contest. High, long and wide to space or a big tall target is the other option.

I think Tom kicks that way because he's had a lot of work done on his kicking. Maybe Oscar is a better natural kicker. Or maybe seeing Tom held back at AFL level by his kicking struggles he took up kicking advice earlier in his football career and has had more success.

Wonder how the club's time trials will finish up from now on - McDonald brothers in a photo finish?

Welcome to the MFC Oscar McDonald!

I too was on the edge of my seat as pick 40 approached. Every single phantom draft I saw had him going in the 20's. Rapt to have him at the Dees at pick 53.

A nice touch that big brother Tom was chosen at the very same pick!

How the F does a bloke slip 20-30 spots and land at the same pick and same club as his brother, has to be fate

It makes you wonder just how much information club recruiters share with one-another.

A quick ring around to ask about the likelihood of certain players in an approximate draft range not being a target might actually happen.