2020 Player Reviews: #25 Tom McDonald

The defender turned forward who was so good in front of goal in 2018 has struggled in the last two years and found himself out of favour with the selectors as the season progressed.

Date of Birth: 18 September, 1992

Height: 194cm

Weight: 99kg

Games MFC 2020: 9

Career Total: 170

Goals MFC 2020: 7

Career Total: 109

There is probably not much to add that hasn't been said in the trade thread. No doubt a disappointing year, but I rate him and I will back his ability to return to his best form as a mobile centre half forward.

It was either this or the Titanic. 

Edited November 10, 20205 yr by Ham

I will reserve my critique until after the Trade Period.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When you double the McDonald brothers footy IQ and add 10 you have Charlie Spargo's footy IQ. The older brother has been playing with a sense of entitlement for too long. Ridiculous contract on the back of one good season. Now we're lumbered with it.

His injuries have been unfortunate, his decline and regression painful to watch.

His contract situation and lack of trade interest is depressing. So much precious cap wasted.

Essendon signed up Peter Wright. So presumably they won't be looking for another big forward.

14 hours ago, Better days ahead said:

His injuries have been unfortunate, his decline and regression painful to watch.

His contract situation and lack of trade interest is depressing. So much precious cap wasted.

Tmac signed at the right time when he was on top of his game however that is the nature of the game. It is unfortunate to see a decline in his play and there might be a number of reasons. He is certainly carrying an injury and that doesn't help confidence.

If they don't move him on and he stays so be it.  Why not play him down back and why do others disagree?  If he can get himself right get him down there. There is a position there for him where he can play the role.   We have a spud down back that is not of AFL standard  and many supporters are blind to see that let alone our coach.  Get him right and let him earn his keep.

 

Tom is a proud man and working hard to get his agility back . Looks trimmed down and moving week in this vid.

Few other vids on this trainers insta show Wideman, anb, lever all busting a gut in November great to see.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIMwRFbHqV4/?igshid=1lr025yx6gj4t

The positive for Tom is that I think 2020 was rock bottom for him, I can imagine him being a very proud individual so no doubt the fire burns to get back to some good form. Question comes where will it be? Personally I think he’s got a better opportunity as the second tall defender. 

For our future (and Sam’s) he should be the first choice to be behind BBB, Mitch Brown showed plenty against Essendon, and Jacko is a fantastic talent (I’d actually like to see us try him on the opposite with to Langdon). 

Down back we have May and Lever as first picked defenders, but Lever would surely work better if given the license to peel off and play as an intercept defender. In the wings we have Smith and Petty developing (though I think Petty looked better as a forward). 

47 minutes ago, Bates Mate said:

Tom is a proud man and working hard to get his agility back . Looks trimmed down and moving week in this vid.

Few other vids on this trainers insta show Wideman, anb, lever all busting a gut in November great to see.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIMwRFbHqV4/?igshid=1lr025yx6gj4t

The fittest I've seen him for a long time.

54 minutes ago, Bates Mate said:

Tom is a proud man and working hard to get his agility back . Looks trimmed down and moving week in this vid.

Few other vids on this trainers insta show Wideman, anb, lever all busting a gut in November great to see.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIMwRFbHqV4/?igshid=1lr025yx6gj4t

Thanks for this but this actually made me feel less confident about Tommy.

His lateral movement doesn't compare well to any of those boys.

I really hope we can get him up again because it will give us a great option at either end.

1 hour ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

Thanks for this but this actually made me feel less confident about Tommy.

His lateral movement doesn't compare well to any of those boys.

I really hope we can get him up again because it will give us a great option at either end.

Really I thought he moved better than lever and on par maybe a tad  under weid. Anb obviously the best movement. Certainly looked trimmed and moving better than anything I saw this year. I'm behind the big fella loves the club ,his bro got delisted and must hurt being shopped around. Credit to him for not dropping his bundle. 

his foot is cooked. delist

1 hour ago, Bates Mate said:

Really I thought he moved better than lever and on par maybe a tad  under weid. Anb obviously the best movement. Certainly looked trimmed and moving better than anything I saw this year. I'm behind the big fella loves the club ,his bro got delisted and must hurt being shopped around. Credit to him for not dropping his bundle. 

We disagree on what we're seeing in the vid and I'm certainly no expert but on the bolded above, I wholeheartedly agree.

There is a small part of me that was happy with him staying on our list because I see him as a guy who's determined and has always played as if he's an outsider with something to prove.

He believes in himself, so if getting back is possible, he'll get there. If not, he's been an asset to the club as a late draft pick.

Let's hope he makes it back.

The problem with The Mac isn't even that he stopped taking marks and kicking goals. It's that he gets run off so easily by the opposition. They start their attack by just walking around him and hitting a target up the ground.

10 hours ago, Pates said:

The positive for Tom is that I think 2020 was rock bottom for him, I can imagine him being a very proud individual so no doubt the fire burns to get back to some good form. Question comes where will it be? Personally I think he’s got a better opportunity as the second tall defender. 

For our future (and Sam’s) he should be the first choice to be behind BBB, Mitch Brown showed plenty against Essendon, and Jacko is a fantastic talent (I’d actually like to see us try him on the opposite with to Langdon). 

Down back we have May and Lever as first picked defenders, but Lever would surely work better if given the license to peel off and play as an intercept defender. In the wings we have Smith and Petty developing (though I think Petty looked better as a forward). 

Thanks for the update @Bates Mate

He’s definitely moving much better. I just hope the foot injury is healed fully. His regression was so pronounced last year that injury could be the only explanation.

If he’s lean and fit then great but I wouldn’t be playing ahead of Weid or Jackson nor would I risk him in defence. My heart is still recovering from Frosty’s cavalier ball use not sure I could handle TMac spraying it to the opposition every week!  Plus Petty needs game time in defence. If he is fit he should start ahead of TMac.

On 11/10/2020 at 12:11 PM, DeeZone said:

I will reserve my critique until after the Trade Period.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well TMac is still a Dee and I still have some reservations for him going into 2021 but I am wishing him all the best for his future at the Dee's and I am hoping like mad that Tom can get back to his great 2018 form playing forward or back. 

Good luck Tom.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tmac is definitely back!

In ripping form. Has he actually got back to his highs of 2018 or does he still have a little bit to go?

Man with a plan: Tom McDonald

On 11/10/2020 at 8:32 AM, poita said:

There is probably not much to add that hasn't been said in the trade thread. No doubt a disappointing year, but I rate him and I will back his ability to return to his best form as a mobile centre half forward.

Great call Poita, nailed it!

1 hour ago, Stiff Arm said:

Man with a plan: Tom McDonald

The Age may have shrunk from a broadsheet to a tabloid but fortunately the bean counters overlooked Realfooty.  Where quality niche journalism still resides. Oscar may be back on the farm but Tom clearly has unfinished business in the big smoke.