Welcome Welcome to Hawthorn: Connor MacDonald! Extended to 2026!

[Strapping Young Lad]

Nice wheels, Croc

 

[MistyAvalon]

played a great game today Hawks v giants

 

[Brishawk]

Nice wheels, Croc

Huge goal!

 

[KermitJagger]

He is becoming maybe our best forward half clearance player, especially when he finishes like he did today. Gun.

 

[cryptor]

Looks a million bucks when he finishes his work.

 

[Bugs1977]

The kid has done a full 180 around about the time I traded him out of my AFL Fantasy team. No need to thank me guys

Seriously though Croc wasn't able to hit the big side of a barn earlier in the season but boy oh boy has the tide turned. What a absolute freak this kid is.

 

[The Chad and I]

Nice wheels, Croc

…bit of Judd about the way he burned his opponent and finished.

 

[Randy Campbell]

A little surprised as thought we might go for something different with this pick.

We have quite a list of young centre square on-ballers now in Worps, Finn, Jai, Nash, Josh Ward and now McDonald.

Connor Macdonald

central.rookieme.com

POSITION: Inside Midfielder

SNAPSHOT: "An accumulating inside ball-winner who produced an outstanding season for the Stingrays, able to catch the eye with his stoppage work and athleticism, as well as defensive pressure."

Connor Macdonald is an inside midfielder with a speedy burst out of congestion and some nice all-round athleticism. With some terrific inside skills, as well as his decision making generally being on-point, it is more about ironing out Macdonald's kicking and finishing execution than anything else. With the Dandenong Stingrays this year he picked up no less than 24 disposals from his four games, including two matches of 30-plus disposals in what was an outstanding showing of consistency, catapulting himself into draft calculations.

STRENGTHS:

• Acceleration
• Stoppage positioning
• Accumulation
• Inside game
• Athleticism
• Tackling

IMPROVEMENTS:

• Kicking consistency
• Finishing

Macdonald looms as a value pick for an inside midfielder from the second round onwards, given his traits and potential areas of improvement. At home around the stoppages, Macdonald is able to pick the right places to stand to win the ball, with his stoppage positioning among his key strengths. From winning the ball, Macdonald is most effective bursting away and firing off a long handball or flicking one to a teammate in a better position, with his decision making also sound. His burst makes him very hard to contain at the stoppages, and is a first possession player, but can think his way out of a stoppage.

A lot of Macdonald's ball is won in close, which automatically adds extra pressure to his disposal. When using it by hand, Macdonald is able to effectively open up the game, whilst by foot, he can hit targets, but at times blazes away and can overcook the kick. Within games Macdonald can look to be efficient by foot, and is best when having time and space to utilise his booming kick, but over a full game, the Stingrays midfielder still has strides to make in order to improve that area of his game. Similarly, his finishing when he sets his sights on goal could use some work, kicking 3.7 from his four games and having plenty of chances, but missing more or equal to his successful shots in each NAB League game.

From a defensive standpoint, Macdonald is a fierce tackler whose 12-tackle game against the Rebels perhaps bolstered his average considering he laid seven in the other three games combined. However, he had to go up against the fierce Rebels midfield in that match, whilst had more freedom in the other games. Switching from a defensive to an offensive standpoint, Macdonald has no trouble finding the ball and looking to drive it in transition, being a kick-first player and one who racks up the inside 50s with ease. If he irons out that kicking consistency going forward, he could be a really damaging player in the future.

DRAFT RANGE: 25-40

SUMMARY:
Connor Macdonald is an accumulating inside midfielder who has a nice blend of offensive and defensive traits. At his best, Macdonald is a run and carry player who can pump the ball inside 50 and be a valuable option in transition. His kicking and finishing execution, or finesse if you like, could definitely be ironed out, but from a big picture perspective, the Stingrays midfielder has enough about him to suggest to clubs he can improve and be a potent threat on offence.

"With some terrific inside skills, as well as his decision making generally being on-point, it is more about ironing out Macdonald's kicking and finishing execution than anything else."

"His kicking and finishing execution, or finesse if you like, could definitely be ironed out."

Nice wheels, Croc

The trick is to understand how to iron silk gently to avoid any damage.

But if cared for right, due to its limited availability, it is definitely a worthy investment.

 

[Dipper]

Yep.

Or if not inked in then a much higher hit rate than he currently has. It feels like he's running about 1 in 4 currently.

He's a hit a couple on the run the last two weeks.

It makes such a difference, in the commentary today Dermie said he used his god given skills, which he meant a bit of acceleration off the mark and as I watched the replay he just arched his back and went but kept his composure so slot it.

He's a classy player, he's always put me in mind of Rozee. I know some say get him in the middle but really what a weapon just outside and ahead of the ball.

So much of our list development reminds me to not worry too much about high draft picks, he was taken after Ward and Butler and I remember a few sages on here saying he was a steal and might be the best of the bunch ( wish I could remember who so as to doff my cap but well done for going early).

He's a really classy operator. One of my favourites amongst too many now, really.

 

[MrPremiership]

Nice wheels, Croc

So happy for him that he did that. Has had some moments this year that he hasn't taken, but that felt significant

 

[humid hawk]

In the last couple of games he's really shown his class and poise. He's in the top runners for distance covered every week and now the extra gears are coming out! This kid has some genuine weapons and the next 150 games are going to be AWESOME

 

[mustang]

In the last couple of games he's really shown his class and poise. He's in the top runners for distance covered every week and now the extra gears are coming out! This kid has some genuine weapons and the next 150 games are going to be AWESOME

Hopefully he gets a chance to start rotating through the midfield to mix it up a bit.

 

[HoldingThe Ball]

In the last 3 games he's become a different bloke.

He's added a genuine defensive effort in his play, resulting in an improved all around performance.

It was the bit missing, and I reckon his teammates appreciate it too.

Well played Connor.

 

[Roddy]

Still flying under the radar. Kicked 4 today, has been hitting the scoreboard regularly, and barely getting mentioned. Not even a comment in here for a month and a half.

 

[humid hawk]

He definitely deserves some love! Covers a huge amount of territory and is starting to become ultra reliable in front of the sticks. Gun.

 

[DrSalt]

Have really liked his last 6-8 weeks, is getting the reward for all the hard work he is doing. Will only improve as he goes under the radar with the focus on moore, ginni and watson in the forwardline

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Still flying under the radar. Kicked 4 today, has been hitting the scoreboard regularly, and barely getting mentioned. Not even a comment in here for a month and a half.

Ginnivan is rightly getting his plaudits, but if you look at the below you'd can't really split the difference between either Macdonald or Ginnivan.



Macdonald has really worked out this high HFF role.

 

[toomanysquibs]

Unreal to draft an inside mid, and turn him into a high half forward who can hit the scoreboard consistently.

Developing some real match winner type qualities on the back of a more than solid work ethic.

Love Macdonald. Everything about him is quality.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

The swagger is electric

 

[Sixpence]

Ginnivan is rightly getting his plaudits, but if you look at the below you'd can't really split the difference between either Macdonald or Ginnivan.

View attachment 2054128

Macdonald has really worked out this high HFF role.

You're not wrong, pretty even right down the line!

Heard a lot preseason about his work rate and dedication to training (ie he was the one "training the house down"). Didn't really seem to translate in the early part of the year, but it's really showing now. Going from strength to strength.

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

He could be kicking more goals than your teams Full Forward in a few years

 

[Roddy]

Did anyone else notice that, in the post-match presser, Sammy had to mention him twice because the journos weren't?

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Did anyone else notice that, in the post-match presser, Sammy had to mention him twice because the journos weren't?

That's ok. Let him go under the radar

 

[ViperV10]

Seriously underrated/unnoticed player. Just love what he's been bringing to our game ever since he debuted.

He's quick, finds space and kicks goals... exactly what you want from a HFF. But what I feel people don't see so much is his toughness. He's got a strong strong core which keeps him so well balanced.

 

[flinchfree]

Did anyone else notice that, in the post-match presser, Sammy had to mention him twice because the journos weren't?

That's alright, Mathew Lloyd drops our Mac's name every chance he gets on the footy shows because he coached him at Haileybury.....