2014 Player Review - # 25 Tom McDonald

[Demonland 73,266]

For a player who has only just turned 22 (today) the key defender had yet another strong season taking on greater responsibility down back, with James Frawley spending a large portion of the year in attack. McDonald remains a fine long-term player for the club.

Games MFC 2014 21

Career Total 60

Goals MFC 2014 2

Career Total 2

Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 212 votes

[jazza 1,323]

Dont even think about him not being at our club.

[poita 3,902]

Had a good solid year. Given that it took Frawley four years to become a decent AFL player, Tommy is tracking along nicely. Just imagine if he ever gets supported by a decent midfield.

[autocol 448]

I hope and pray that his deficiencies in disposal are coachable. If he can correct his kicking he will be an absolute gun key position player (and I'm still of the opinion that he could successfully play a roaming CHF role).

[P-man 13,366]

Finished the year strongly. His determination to get better will hold him in good stead, and on a good day he is very difficult to beat.

He remains arguably the biggest liability with ball in hand (Grimes and Bail being the main contenders) but hopefully we can recruit some players to to lessen the pressure on him coming out of the back half.

[whatwhat say what 23,073]

An honest trier, he's no world beater...but he can beat his man, and that's the important thing.

To have held down the key defensive role for three seasons at 22 is pretty impressive.

[Fat Tony 5,291]

Solid defensive game, great run and finds the ball, but his disposal and decision making are bottom 5% in the AFL. Personally, I don't think McDonald's flaws are fixable. I also don't think his poor skills don't suit Roos's game plan of feeding backwards to a free kicker.

McDonald is one of the first players I would seek to trade for the right price. I would look to package him and ~#22 to Sydney for Tom Mitchell and Brandon Jack. RIchards and Grundy are 32 and 29 next year. And we could recruit James Gwilt at no cost as a stop gap.

[dazzledavey36 55,453]

Solid defensive game, great run and finds the ball, but his disposal and decision making are bottom 5% in the AFL. Personally, I don't think McDonald's flaws are fixable. I also don't think his poor skills don't suit Roos's game plan of feeding backwards to a free kicker.

McDonald is one of the first players I would seek to trade for the right price. I would look to package him and ~#22 to Sydney for Tom Mitchell and Brandon Jack. RIchards and Grundy are 32 and 29 next year. And we could recruit James Gwilt at no cost as a stop gap.

Where does that stats say that?

[Fat Tony 5,291]

Where does that stats say that?

The 5% is my assessment, although it doesn't come through in the disposal efficiency stats because they don't take into account either pressure or how safe an option is selected.

McDonald plays in the easiest position in terms of disposal efficiency. In 2014 the top players in the AFL for disposal efficiency (with more than 100 possessions) were Neville Jetta, Ben Rutten, Lachie Hansen, Darren Glass, Ben Stratton and Michael Jamison. Jarrod Rivers was going at 83%, which is 10% more efficient than McDonald.

I would only trade him for a good return, but I think there would be suitors.

[Nasher 33,617]

I'm a huge fan, even if he does have some head-in-hands moments with the ball. I love a KPD who I can trust to win contests.

[Little Richard 6,265]

An honest trier, he's no world beater...but he can beat his man, and that's the important thing.

To have held down the key defensive role for three seasons at 22 is pretty impressive.

No world beater yet, but for a 22 year old key defender he's tracking bloody well to get to that level.

[Nasher 33,617]

No world beater yet, but for a 22 year old key defender he's tracking bloody well to get to that level.

When have we ever asked for our defenders to beat the world anyway? They need to beat their man, and know when to help their teammates beat their man. McDonald does these.

[Little Richard 6,265]

When have we ever asked for our defenders to beat the world anyway? They need to beat their man, and know when to help their teammates beat their man. McDonald does these.

True, but he is yet to master the skill of kicking a football. Once he can do this well and consistently, then he may take on the world.

[ILLDieADemon 804]

If we didn't have this guy I would be worrier about losing Chip. He will take the spot off Dunn of main defender in a couple of seasons.

[deeko 952]

He's no superstar but he does a solid enough job for us not to worry about a CHB for the next decade.

His kicking will get better with age as he continually improves and learns his limits.