Player Watch #11: Luke "Two Dogs" McDonald (Part II) - Roo til end '26 - 2023/24 co captain w/ Jy

[FlyHigh18]

Are you willing to sacrifice the development of Goater to play Luke? * that

It's not sacrificing, it's just keeping a balance while we transition. Wholesale change can also damage development.

 

[Liam Boy]

We're playing four forwards at back lol

How do you figure? Comben I'll give you, but who else?

 

[r_boy]

Always been a fan of Luke, but I think Hardeman will displace him out of the side over the next two years.

 

[DuckYeah]

It's not sacrificing, it's just keeping a balance while we transition. Wholesale change can also damage development.

Bit of a strawman that innit? To suggest playing a third year player in defensive team with Corr and Sheeze in it with Logue to come back is hardly disrupting the fabric of our future

 

[Twangler]

Mcdonalds best season as bnf was when he played midfield as a mxture of tagged aswell as pure mid. As someone with a big body I'd look to get him back in there if anything. With the fact that we're playing mckercher Fisher sheezel down back with most likely 3 talls and goatee as the 7th defender who has had a good pre season there is no room for Luke. Maybe he might even be an option as the sub

Really? I remember his bnf year as him playing primarily defence with his intercept marking on show. Don’t remember him doing anything much of note on the midfield since we drafted him. Then again that season was a complete shemozzle so it may just be me wiping it from my memory.

 

[JGreezy]

Really? I remember his bnf year as him playing primarily defence with his intercept marking on show. Don’t remember him doing anything much of note on the midfield since we drafted him. Then again that season was a complete shemozzle so it may just be me wiping it from my memory.

He occasionally played some midfield, tagging and wing but spent most of his time down back, from my memory.

He averaged 0.1 centre clearances, 0 goal assists, 0 goals. He took 2 marks inside 50 for the whole season.

Meanwhile, he averaged 5.8 intercept possessions, 5.0 rebounds 50s.

His stat profile was very much that of a defender.

 

[FlyHigh18]

Bit of a strawman that innit? To suggest playing a third year player in defensive team with Corr and Sheeze in it with Logue to come back is hardly disrupting the fabric of our future

It’s only a strawman argument if you ignore my first post and instead focus on that one point , like you have just done.

We’ve already seen what happens when you cut onfield experience too quickly.

 

[DuckYeah]

It’s only a strawman argument if you ignore my first post and instead focus on that one point , like you have just done.

We’ve already seen what happens when you cut onfield experience too quickly.

yeh, you’re right. We are seeing less footys kicked out on the full.

 

[ChairmanZia]

McDonald to play mid? …. You can’t be serious? I think Jy is on his last legs in the midfield and you think McDonald should be playing there?

You realise luke won the bnf because he had a beard and the people casting votes didnt know who he was

At the end of 2017, scott was starting to trialling mcdonald in the mid...

 

[RossHenshaw]

At the end of 2017, scott was starting to trialling mcdonald in the mid...

 

[ChairmanZia]

View attachment 1925502

But you got to admit, scott was a good coach, look how he went at the bummers....oh uh, never mind...

 

[Devington]

Interesting position to find himself in on the leadup of the first round our first game. Feels like there's a half decent chance he'll have to prove a bit of form in the seconds in order to eventually get in the team.

If you subscribe to the idea that he's not worthy of a spot in the 22 but it's a ****er to deal with because he's co-captain, then this injury has certainly given the match committee some cover.

Interesting times ahead.

 

[Forever North]

Reckon Clarko will ‘manage’ Luke out of the club if not by the end of this season definitely by end of next year. Loyal servant, puts his body on the line etc but simply not up to standard nowdays.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

I reckon he’ll be in the side round 1, not that I agree with it.

 

[tazaa]

Reckon Clarko will ‘manage’ Luke out of the club if not by the end of this season definitely by end of next year. Loyal servant, puts his body on the line etc but simply not up to standard nowdays.

Contracted till the end of 2026

 

[justroyal]

At the end of 2017, scott was starting to trialling mcdonald in the mid...

Was he playing midfield during juniors and then went to the backline when developing in the vfl team as an underaged player? Or maybe it was when he was drafted.

Point though, wasn’t he always supposed to be a mid?

 

[ChairmanZia]

Was he playing midfield during juniors and then went to the backline when developing in the vfl team as an underaged player? Or maybe it was when he was drafted.

Point though, wasn’t he always supposed to be a mid?

Well he would have been a good player, he was quite good in the 2010s but the standar of being a defender has risen in 2020s...they are not just about stopping but about organising counterattacks, i.e. point guard, quarterbacks.

 

[Shermanator]

It's not sacrificing, it's just keeping a balance while we transition. Wholesale change can also damage development.

I would be very disappointed if Goater gets dropped for anyone.

His development curve is spot on at the moment and after 20+ touches, a goal and lockdown job on the very talented Phillopou last week he stays.

 

[Twinkletoes]

You're not the only one who went to all those Grand Finals. Actually I missed the first 77 game (draw), but went to all the rest. I don't see any relevance of this to McDonald playing in 2024.

And you're moving the goalposts here. Very few of us are saying Luke is an automatic selection, we're just sick of your bullshit that it relates to Donald being at the club. It doesn't. I doubt that even you believe it any more, so give it a f***ing rest.

I went to all of them and couldn’t agree more with your assessment of the post you quoted. The same old rant.

 

[RobZombie]

I know a poster here who took his young boys to Hobart (from Melbourne) for the last game last year. Reckons it did wonders for rusting them on as supporters.

Went to that one too. Was a lot of fun and a fine palate cleanser for the season.

(Full disclosure: we had to go down anyway to organise some family stuff. We just chose to sync up that particular weekend)

 

[Shermanator]

Was he playing midfield during juniors and then went to the backline when developing in the vfl team as an underaged player? Or maybe it was when he was drafted.

Point though, wasn’t he always supposed to be a mid?

Yep you’re right.

Unfortunately we had JZ, Cunners and Spitta all playing his position when he arrived so he was stuck behind a log jam of bullocking midfielders and that’s why he probably ended up in the backline.

 

[shintemaster]

Yep you’re right.

Unfortunately we had JZ, Cunners and Spitta all playing his position when he arrived so he was stuck behind a log jam of bullocking midfielders and that’s why he probably ended up in the backline.

He doesn't seem to have the spatial abilities in close to be a proper mid. I think that's a convenient reason but if he was good enough he'd have made it happen. Much more of a utility type. 2026 contract is annoying from a list spot point of view but have to assume that we front loaded the hell out of this given where we were at when signed. If he's in the team come middle of 2025 he'll have had to step it up which is fine by me.

 

[DuckYeah]

Did Clarko say he needs two more weeks?

Phew!

 

[The Nostradamus]

Did Clarko say he needs two more weeks?

Phew!

TBD today or tomorrow along with Corr

"[Corr] is very similar to Luke McDonald, he had a pretty severe ankle injury just prior to Christmas, and he's played two games back now. We just need to determine this week if that's sufficient, or if he needs one or two more. We'll make that call this afternoon or tomorrow.”

 

[tazaa]

Did Clarko say he needs two more weeks?

Phew!

Said he needed another week or two till hes ready, and when he does its to stay.

Luke is playing VFL for atleast a fortnight and then will need to force his way back in.

As it should be. It’s up to McDonald to prove he can contribute at AFL level. No more gifting games