Player Watch #11: Luke "Two Dogs" McDonald (Part II) - Steps down from Co-Captaincy for 2025

[Harris 10]

Doesn't he run straight through an lmac tackle after the tap?

Not sure you could call it a tackle or even a tackle attempt. It was more like a high five and pat on the bum as he went past him.

 

[Mav]

It’s often hard to tell on TV. But often the fact that someone else was on Rankine is Luke’s fault. Depends on the situation. One of the reasons I question those ‘goals kicked on…’ stats.

Even harder with this zoning off defense.


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Yep, which is why it's so stupid from people like Chadwiko who carried on about Rankine kicking 5 on Lmac. One goal of Rankines was cause Lmac had to defend against Tex, who was in a more dangerous position.

I was at the game, and I saw LMac do so much good stuff I was amazed to come on here and read how bad everyone said his game was. Sure he made some mistakes, but wasn't alone. But his desperate defense saved many goals.

Doesn't he run straight through an lmac tackle after the tap?

Yep, and he can only do that if the palm is the exact right spot. Rankine is hitting the contest at speed and its hard for anyone to tackle in that situation. A decent stoppage set up would have a wing playing a defensive position that can stop a player coming through in that situation. LDU was our spare and he was front and square and not defending at all.

So we can blame LMac or we can blame the set up. I blame the set up, and a 1 in a million tap.

 

[zoomba23]

If he's a good bloke, surely he has the moral fibre to put his hand up and drop himself. I certainly would be in his position.

If he isn't initially keen on the idea, just perk him up with the prospect of playing in a win and getting fifteen intercept marks against a team of carpenters

 

[roos_fanatic08]

His form this year really is unforgivable. Yeah, he might do the odd desperate act that may save a goal, but he coughs up so many more shots on goal as with his horrendous decision making, poor positioning, his reaction times to turnovers, fumbling and by running into trouble when he has possession of the ball.

He would not get a game in any other backline in the comp.

 

[Ball Dont Lie]

If they are serious about changing the culture he gets dropped this week. Going through his game tape he should step down himself. Unfortunately I don’t think the NMFC is a serious organisation any longer and is happy to just exist rather than thrive

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

Yep, which is why it's so stupid from people like Chadwiko who carried on about Rankine kicking 5 on Lmac. One goal of Rankines was cause Lmac had to defend against Tex, who was in a more dangerous position.

I was at the game, and I saw LMac do so much good stuff I was amazed to come on here and read how bad everyone said his game was. Sure he made some mistakes, but wasn't alone. But his desperate defense saved many goals.

Yep, and he can only do that if the palm is the exact right spot. Rankine is hitting the contest at speed and its hard for anyone to tackle in that situation. A decent stoppage set up would have a wing playing a defensive position that can stop a player coming through in that situation. LDU was our spare and he was front and square and not defending at all.

So we can blame LMac or we can blame the set up. I blame the set up, and a 1 in a million tap.

I’m not defending McDonald. He’s a very limited footballer. I’m saying the plan is exacerbating his weaknesses.

I’m not sure any of the back 6 will be per of our next finals side.


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[Chadwiko]

I’m not defending McDonald. He’s a very limited footballer. I’m saying the plan is exacerbating his weaknesses.

I’m not sure any of the back 6 will be per of our next finals side.


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Logue will be, and McKay absolutely could be if he stays.

The rest... yeah.

(Unless of course Sheezel is still playing in the back 6).

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

Logue will be, and McKay absolutely could be if he stays.

The rest... yeah.

(Unless of course Sheezel is still playing in the back 6).

I think logue is most likely but I think Clarko sees McKay as a bad fit. He’s an elite back shoulder defender.


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[Scallop Industry Thug]

Luke is tough, never shirks. All of that.

But how the bloke has never developed any ability to kick on his right leaves me dumbfounded.

Leadership isn’t the Archer shit. It’s taking time to work on weaknesses.


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[Mav]

Luke is tough, never shirks. All of that.

But how the bloke has never developed any ability to kick on his right leaves me dumbfounded.

Leadership isn’t the Archer s**t. It’s taking time to work on weaknesses.


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Yep. It's definitely and issue, but again he's not alone. If Perez, Goater or Archer had played on Rankine it would have been bloody ugly. At the moment we don't have a better one one defender.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

Yep. It's definitely and issue, but again he's not alone. If Perez, Goater or Archer had played on Rankine it would have been bloody ugly. At the moment we don't have a better one one defender.

Yep. It’s not great.


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[Sphynx]

Well, I think we can safely say we know who Donald’s burner account is….

 

[ferball]

Compare his progress to Sicily taken in the same draft in the 30s and also a captain now,

Sicily had Clarkson as a coach, McDonald had Bard.

 

[ferball]

Eviscerated by Kingy again on First Crack.

Port are on top and have dropped their captain for weeks.

We persist with ours having had 11 goals kicked on him in two weeks.

He had one goal kicked on him by Weightman. Maybe one more cos of his inability to man up but I personally don't think it was on him.

Yes he's been shit but he didn't have 11 goals kicked on him in two weeks.

 

[ferball]

He could have had two frees there. You can bet if it was him or another of our players that slung a player into the ground and had a head impact he'd have been penalised.

I think the problem is with the entire back 6/7 not just McDonald.

 

[ferball]

No, he was good. He wasn't "let's give him a five year contract extension" good though and has reverted back to his normal level since.

Did you hear what he said about Rhys that year? Basically Rhys challenged him to get the best out of himself. Something no other coach (ie Brad) had done. He said it was the hardest he ever trained etc.

 

[ferball]

It’s often hard to tell on TV. But often the fact that someone else was on Rankine is Luke’s fault. Depends on the situation. One of the reasons I question those ‘goals kicked on…’ stats.

Even harder with this zoning off defense.


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No it isn't.

Our defense is a dog's breakfast but if you see the necessity or the opportunity you have to take it and trust your team mates will back you up and cover for you. Our backline doesn't do that. Its a dog's breakfast.

I agree you can't necessarily trust "goals kicked on" stats but you need to base your judgement on the individual goals.

 

[ferball]

Yep. It's definitely and issue, but again he's not alone. If Perez, Goater or Archer had played on Rankine it would have been bloody ugly. At the moment we don't have a better one one defender.

This is a serious issue too. I think Perez can do okay on the backline, he had good moments yesterday in contests that he won, and definitely think Archer could become a good lockdown defender but he needs toi get fit and run out games.

 

[My Left Foote]

Hey Mods can we please change the thread title

Player Watch #11: Luke "Two Dogs" McDonald (Part II) - we're Rooted til end '26​

 

[Flawed Genius]

, but it’s hard to text and drive at the same time..

 

[The Nostradamus]

Simple mission this week for mine keep Henry to no more than 1 goal

 

[Mav]

It’s all right, the trucks automatic so I only need 1 hand on the wheel.

 

[Carey4life]

Hey Mods can we please change the thread title to:

Player Watch #11: Luke "Two Dogs" McDonald (Part II) - we're Rooted til end '26​

Let's not hold the contract against Luke. I might be overestimating our adminstration, although I reckon the last three years he won't be on much.

Also Corr and him were always going to be in a good spot given we have a black hole in our list demographics between Cunnington and Simpkin.

This is a serious issue too. I think Perez can do okay on the backline, he had good moments yesterday in contests that he won, and definitely think Archer could become a good lockdown defender but he needs toi get fit and run out games.

The promising aspect of Perez is that he is strong and can lay a tackle. I do worry he has the same issues with his disposal that lmac has. Run 10m and roost it 50m straight down the ground. Like Luke, he needs to improve his decision making to be effective out of defence.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

Driving into oncoming traffic to pwn Chad.


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[Uncle_Leo]

If Rankine was playing on any other player on our list he would have kicked 10.