Been a great workhorse forward running his guts out every week since being moved there (he gave me nightmares with his decision making as a defender): I think an underrated player in some ways playing in a very tough position on the field, not every tall forward is a superstar you need a grunt player there too at times. Well done to Tmac for being a 200 game premiership player! 

Very under-appreciated for his pack busting, gut-running and swing man capabilities. So much of his work goes unnoticed by many on here. But he takes a gorilla backman each week and plays a vital role for us.

Outstanding story of perseverance and not throwing the toys out of the pram when he was told to look elsewhere. Instead knuckling down and working on deficiencies in his game.

Thoroughly deserves his 200 games and his premiership.

Congratulations Tom.

3 hours ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

He may very well be. But his output, explosiveness  off the mark and ability to get his hands on the pill suggest to me this will be his last year (unless he is happy playing out much of the next 3 years at Casey).

I don't disagree with any of your points above. However T Mc doesn't strike me as the type to retrie early. I suspect he'll spend most of 2023/24 the way Mitch Brown has these last few years. A back up who might play a couple of games a year and help support our young talls at Casey. How many games he still plays this year are still TBD I reckon.

41 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

 

Those Eagles fans gesturing behind the goals gives me eternal joy.

I was coached from a very young age to always mark to he ball on the goal line, or Shepherd it through if an oppo player was close. I still coach the same thing.

The one time I didn't follow the instruction was in a representative game where the ball bounced on the line went straight up over my head then back towards goal on second bounce clipping the post on the way. If this happened to Tmac, everyone would be screaming at him for letting it go!!!

As for awareness, you eyes are on the ball first, periphery is then for other players who could impact the play, then goal posts, and lastly a line on the ground!!!

Note just letting the ball bounce through, is often enough for a back running full speed to touch it, should it be a slow bounce. I seem to recall our backs save many a goal by not giving up on a certain goal.

 

T Mac should definitely retain his spot. I supported the decision to drop him but he played well as Casey, showed the right attitude and took his chances on Saturday.

If Jackson is fit, he will take Weed's spot. Bit harsh on Weed but he is 4th in pecking order currently.  It is great to have this competition for spots though, keeps T Mac and others on their toes

54 minutes ago, He de mon said:

Those Eagles fans gesturing behind the goals gives me eternal joy.

And Goody’s reaction in the box… ❤️

1 hour ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

Only thing I dislike about that moment is that it happened in our ‘Bali knockoff’ away strip. 😕

sure is awful

Even when he gets towards a MAJOR milestone people still bag him. His role as the "optional" tall forward is pretty thankless in that you are required to run in the wrong direction and take 2 nd option. But then if the ball is spilled you have to double back and provide the grunt to allow the smalls to get room. Takes a team player and Tmac hs proved he is that. Congratulations.

Well done Tom

that goal against Meth Coke was magnificent 

and the Final Nail in the ‘21 GF

Forever Premiership Player 

1 hour ago, daisycutter said:

 

I didn't realise it was McGovern tackling him too - who is no slouch!

1 hour ago, DubDee said:

T Mac should definitely retain his spot. I supported the decision to drop him but he played well as Casey, showed the right attitude and took his chances on Saturday.

If Jackson is fit, he will take Weed's spot. Bit harsh on Weed but he is 4th in pecking order currently.  It is great to have this competition for spots though, keeps T Mac and others on their toes

Weed played as a ruck to relieve Maxie. Jackson's spot. TMac should stay as a forward. He does more at ground level than Weed and we have enough marking strength already. Sorry for Weed but it is time the coaches figured out how to use him to his maximum advantage.

Edited May 2, 20222 yr by tiers
Fat finger spelling correction

9 hours ago, gs77 said:

Given two absolutely unforgettable moments in the goalsquare that I will cherish forever. One being his lead-snatching goal while being slung in a tackle that sealed our magnificent win against West Coast in Perth back in 2017.

I was at that game. Only game in Perth I’ve ever been to. I happened to get down from Sydney for 3 games in a row that season which I expected to be losses. Beat Pies at QB by 4pts. Then reigning Premiers Dogs at Marvel. Then went to Perth and took my brother and nephew. Hunkered down amongst the only Dees supporters at the ground. So so sweet. Couldn’t believe it.  
It was Goody’s first season and by the end of those 3 games he was looking like the messiah not a naughty boy 

Edited May 2, 20222 yr by Its Time for Back to Back

i absolutely love 'plugger' mac

it's a massive question as to whether he or weed gets retained for this weekend

could go either way

Whether you agreed with his decision to mark on the line or not the one thing I loved was his decisiveness in the moment. He knew what he was going to do in the moment and didn't waver. You'll often see guys in two minds in that situation and they end up bobbling it but Tommy has laser focus and stays in the moment. 

On the fence with whether he stays in or not, I think being able to shift the Saints backline around a bit with his endurance would be handy but will leave this to the experts. 

For what it's worth, on 360 last night Goodwin said he made the right decision marking the ball.

Tom has been a super player for this club for a long term and absolutely deserves to play game 200 this week (and many more beyond that).

People just don't get how much of his work is done off the ball and behind the scenes. It's no coincidence that Ben Brown has averaged 3 goals a game when Tom has played this year, and only kicked 1 in the other game.

Ideally Tom shepherds the Harmes goal through, but most of the blame should fall on Weideman who stood in the goal square and watched the whole thing happen.

Weideman has been poor for a month since the Essendon game, although I don't mind him having a run in the ruck to get his hands on the ball as he did on Saturday. If Jackson comes back, Sam should be the one to drop out.

 

At least he marked it and did not fumble and then it would have been a point.

2 hours ago, poita said:

Ideally Tom shepherds the Harmes goal through, but most of the blame should fall on Weideman who stood in the goal square and watched the whole thing happen.

Weideman has been poor for a month since the Essendon game, although I don't mind him having a run in the ruck to get his hands on the ball as he did on Saturday. If Jackson comes back, Sam should be the one to drop out.

Some go to strange places to have a crack at the Weid.  Its all his fault that TMc, completely unaware of 2 very large posts, markings on the ground, goal umpire chappie who stands between the big posts decides to mark what should have been let through as a goal.  And how do you know that the Weid wasnt yelling at him?

Still it does make good theatre.  Remember M Blight walking straight up to the point line and kicking it through, Percy Jones kicking the post instead of the ball or a young P McKenna, marking the ball on the goal line, (I think he kicked 12).  D Tuddenham was not happy.

 

Edited May 3, 20222 yr by Jontee
typo

21 minutes ago, Jontee said:

Some go to strange places to have a crack at the Weid.  Its all his fault that TMc, completely unaware of 2 very large posts, markings on the ground, goal umpire chappie who stands between the big posts decides to mark what should have been let through as a goal.  And how do you know that the Weid wasnt yelling at him?

Still it does make good theatre.  Remember M Blight walking straight up to the point line and kicking it through, Percy Jones kicking the post instead of the ball or a young P McKenna, marking the ball on the goal line, (I think he kicked 12).  D Tuddenham was not happy.

 

Not as good as people believing Tom should have been looking at the posts, the line, the ball and the opposition all at the same time. His main focus would have been the ball I'm sure.

Also just as many on here go to great lengths to pump up Weid's mediocre performances.

Congratulations on 200 games Tommy "Macca" McDonald! Fingers crossed he gets the nod to play this week against St. Kilda?

"Macca"  has definitely done it the "hard way" to reach 200 games. As he said himself, we were a "rabble" and we were able to turn it around. We are now reigning Premiers!

I want to say a massive THANK YOU to "Macca" for his hard work and loyalty as a Demon. Hopefully he gets to play 250+ games for us by the time he retires! 

 

5 hours ago, poita said:

 

Ideally Tom shepherds the Harmes goal through, but most of the blame should fall on Weideman who stood in the goal square and watched the whole thing 

 

Really, who gives a rats [censored], tmac took a clean mark on the goal line after a buetiful pass from harmes ,the result a goal to Melbourne. What did you expect Weideman to do, shepperd Tmac over the line.

 

 

6 hours ago, poita said:

Ideally Tom shepherds the Harmes goal through, but most of the blame should fall on Weideman who stood in the goal square and watched the whole thing happen.

8 hours ago, poita said:

Tom has been a super player for this club for a long term and absolutely deserves to play game 200 this week (and many more beyond that).

People just don't get how much of his work is done off the ball and behind the scenes. It's no coincidence that Ben Brown has averaged 3 goals a game when Tom has played this year, and only kicked 1 in the other game.

Ideally Tom shepherds the Harmes goal through, but most of the blame should fall on Weideman who stood in the goal square and watched the whole thing happen.

Weideman has been poor for a month since the Essendon game, although I don't mind him having a run in the ruck to get his hands on the ball as he did on Saturday. If Jackson comes back, Sam should be the one to drop out.

 

Hi Tmac! Welcome to Demonland

Fantastic achievement. Congrats Tom McDonald. The 26th Demon to play 200 games

306  David Neitz  (1993-08)
302  Nathan Jones  (2006-21)
272  Robert Flower  (1973-87)
271  Adem Yze  (1995-08)
264  Jim Stynes  (1987-98)
258  Steven Febey  (1988-02)
254  Brad Green  (2000-12)
252  Brian Dixon  (1954-68)
251  James McDonald  (1997-10)
236  Jeff White  (1998-08)
235  Brett Lovett  (1985-98)
233  Todd Viney  (1987-99)
228  Russell Robertson  (1997-09)
226  Stan Alves  (1965-76)  
226  Garry Lyon  (1986-99)
224  Greg Wells  (1969-80)  
224  Cameron Bruce  (2000-10)
219  Gary Hardeman  (1967-77, 1981)
216  Jack Mueller  (1934-50)
213  Percy Beames  (1931-44)
210  Norm Smith  (1935-48)
205  Don Williams  (1953-59, 1964-68)
204  Ron D. Barassi  (1953-64)
203  Steven Smith  (1974-85)
202  Robert  ‘Tassie’  Johnson  (1959-69)
200  Tom McDonald  (2011-22)