2023 Player Reviews: #25 Tom McDonald

[Demonland 66,956]

Date of Birth: 18 September 1992
Height: 195cm
Weight: 101kg

Games MFC 2023: 8

Career Total: 210
 


Goals MFC 2023: 9

Career Total: 166


Games CDFC 2023: 6

Goals CDFC 2023: 14

The defender turned forward has seen many ups and downs since his 53-goal season in 2018 followed by a foot injury which he overcame to play a pivotal role in the club’s premiership in 2021. Since then, he has again suffered from foot injuries which curtailed his past two seasons and he struggled to find form in this year’s finals series. Based on the early preseason, he could make a return to defence in 2024.

[jnrmac 19,505]

Needs to learn how to mark the ball again.

Maybe the mooted move to defence may suit him now that we have amore solid backline.

 

[DeeZone 8,168]

Tommy was great for us in 2018 & 2021 and a fit TMac provides extra depth to May, Lever, Tomlinson, Turner and Adams. I hope Tommy gets back to his best in case we need him down back. The boys can learn a lot from TMac fwd & back.

[monoccular 16,654]

I feel so sorry for Tom - he was an important part in our flag, and in us getting as far as we did in 2018.

He works hard, is strong and well bulked in the upper body, but has been let down repeatedly by his foot.  Now time is against him and sadly I suspect that time will pass him by, though I hope deep down that he will be able to make a big contribution in what will surely be his final season.

Thanks Tom.

[picket fence 15,783]

Finished.. End of story, too slow and mobility of Jabba the Hutt. Been a great servant but, now gorne! IMO

[Biffen 12,563]

Will be a good swingman if fit.

Versatile,loyal,dedicated.

Deserves respect and another year on the list unlike some vegetarians.

Edited December 25, 2023 by Biffen
Sp.

[BDA 20,895]

I've written him off before but this time I reckon he's cooked. Great servant though.

[jane02 3,576]

I saw Tom up north in October. Looked fighting fit and he felt confident that he was going to get through the bulk of next season injury free 🤞🙏

[Tracca 658]

4 hours ago, jane02 said:

I saw Tom up north in October. Looked fighting fit and he felt confident that he was going to get through the bulk of next season injury free 🤞🙏

ive heard the same too, was told that he was running at about 60% fitness last year coming into finals when we needed him desperately.... no wonder he didnt do much at all.

 

He ran a pb for his time trial which is exceptional considering hes at the end of his career

[whatwhat say what 20,401]

a fit tom mcdonald makes a huge difference to our side - he's a bit of a barometer in that when he's playing well (2018, 2021, first ten games in 2022) the whole side is performing

i unfortunately don't have much confidence in him getting thru a full season at his age

hope i'm wrong

[Chook 14,702]

I think he's cooked, but will give him the benefit of the doubt one more time as long as he has an uninterrupted pre-season. Very much a continuity and fitness reliant player.

[Wizard of Koz 981]

On 26/12/2023 at 14:47, Tracca said:

ive heard the same too, was told that he was running at about 60% fitness last year coming into finals when we needed him desperately.... no wonder he didnt do much at all.

 

He ran a pb for his time trial which is exceptional considering hes at the end of his career

yeahhhhh right

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,641]

Should not have played under any circumstances against Carlton. His performance in week 1 finals was off the pace and attracted warranted media scrutiny post game.

And yet the selection panel retained him for the Carlton final as part of a litany of questionable selections in the finals series. We had a perfectly fit Grundy or Shache that could’ve played his role as the second ruck and have a smaller sub to provide late game run on a warming night for a final.

I agree with their idea of training him and ultimately playing him as the third tall defender. It will be good to have Tomlinson, Turner and T Mac fighting for the one spot and T Mac is a proven commodity down back.

[picket fence 15,783]

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Should not have played under any circumstances against Carlton. His performance in week 1 finals was off the pace and attracted warranted media scrutiny post game.

And yet the selection panel retained him for the Carlton final as part of a litany of questionable selections in the finals series. We had a perfectly fit Grundy or Shache that could’ve played his role as the second ruck and have a smaller sub to provide late game run on a warming night for a final.

I agree with their idea of training him and ultimately playing him as the third tall defender. It will be good to have Tomlinson, Turner and T Mac fighting for the one spot and T Mac is a proven commodity down back.

Terrible selection agreed,he's more cooked than a cremated steak!

[Tracca 658]

On 29/12/2023 at 21:30, Wizard of Koz said:

yeahhhhh right

he did. go have a look at the times, and then speak to his running trainer who has publically endorsed this on his twitter.

[Tracca 658]

On 30/12/2023 at 07:48, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Should not have played under any circumstances against Carlton. His performance in week 1 finals was off the pace and attracted warranted media scrutiny post game.

And yet the selection panel retained him for the Carlton final as part of a litany of questionable selections in the finals series. We had a perfectly fit Grundy or Shache that could’ve played his role as the second ruck and have a smaller sub to provide late game run on a warming night for a final.

I agree with their idea of training him and ultimately playing him as the third tall defender. It will be good to have Tomlinson, Turner and T Mac fighting for the one spot and T Mac is a proven commodity down back.

i still scratch my head as to why Goodwin thought it was a good idea to bring him in when we had a fit Schache. They literally havent addressed this once. stupid selection. Hope he can get back to playing but i fear his body wont hold up again.

[Wizard of Koz 981]

On 31/12/2023 at 07:20, Tracca said:

he did. go have a look at the times, and then speak to his running trainer who has publically endorsed this on his twitter.

once again yeahhhh right.    Dont be naive to the fact that the club does leak porkie pies from time to time. Especially for fan engagment

[Tracca 658]

5 hours ago, Wizard of Koz said:

once again yeahhhh right.    Dont be naive to the fact that the club does leak porkie pies from time to time. Especially for fan engagment

the club didn’t leak anything….. his running coach who is completely seperate from the club is the same as Adam Tomlinson posted it on his instagram.

 

[picket fence 15,783]

6 hours ago, Tracca said:

the club didn’t leak anything….. his running coach who is completely seperate from the club is the same as Adam Tomlinson posted it on his instagram.

 

Surely having a non aligned person extraneous from the club is taboo??

[leave it to deever 16,581]

On 27/12/2023 at 01:06, whatwhat say what said:

a fit tom mcdonald makes a huge difference to our side - he's a bit of a barometer in that when he's playing well (2018, 2021, first ten games in 2022) the whole side is performing

i unfortunately don't have much confidence in him getting thru a full season at his age

hope i'm wrong

Sadly I think his career has probably come to and end. Playing wise that is. If it is, I certainly hope the club keeps him on in some capacity. Maybe a goal kicking coach.😀

I would love to be wrong but he seems a lot slower these days and has the turning circle of an old front wheel drive Mitsubishi Magna, I once owned.

He has been plagued by injuries over the last three years and his performance in both our finals last year was umm .....yea.

He has been a wonderful forward option for us and helped set up our 21 granny birth. Aa much as I would love that to continue, I think most of us would probably agree that it won't.

[Cranky Franky 1,593]

He's still handy to have as depth even if he mainly plays at Casey. Can pinch hit in the ruck or any key position. 

Great team player & always gives 100%.

 

 

[Sir Why You Little 35,321]

After last September i am staggered that he is going around again 

I love Tom, but we played those 2 Finals a man down…

[dl4e 5,702]

Been a great servant but is well and truly cooked.

[Cranky Franky 1,593]

5 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

After last September i am staggered that he is going around again 

I love Tom, but we played those 2 Finals a man down…

Blame Goodwin for picking him when he had the option of Schache & Grundy.

We chose to give Tom a contract till 2024 so we wear it.

[Slartibartfast 16,127]

I want to just balance the views here and point out that those suggesting Schache or Grundy play instead of Tom are in a no lose situation playing Monday morning quarterback. You'll never be proven wrong, but you aren't correct either.

Grundy was tried forward and couldn't do it, he couldn't do it even partially.  He doesn't know how to play the position, he can't judge the ball well in the air and therefore doesn't reliably bring it to ground when it's in his area.  Just look at how Phillips completely outpointed him in the Gather Round last year.  Grundy is a ruck only, we know that now, so to pick him in the team or as sub would have been silly as he's only a back up for Gawn.  If Gawn plays Grundy doesn't.

Schache has been the most unreliable and uncompetitive tall you could imagine at all three AFL clubs he's played for.  There is a reason he's at his third. He isn't strong in the air, he isn't strong in the contest and he doesn't play well in high pressure situations such as finals.  Why was he picked as a sub?  Because he can at least play in multiple positions as a KPB, KBF and ruck, but he does all of these at mediocre VFL level.

In a low scoring game against Collingwood, who have a fantastic defense, Tommy kicked one and should have had two.  He knows how to compete in the air, the opposition have to cover him and he can play as a defensive tall.  These are all things he is better at than Schache or Grundy.  He wasn't a poor option, he was just the last option after JvR, Brown and Petty were all injured.  And Tommy was only half fit.

I reckon that if Grundy or Schache had played that last game the same comments would still be made except it would be Tommy that would be called for at the expense of whoever played.  Tommy's positive was that at least he's got the footy IQ to play the position and do a job, Schache and Grundy don't.