Player Watch #11: Luke "Two Dogs" McDonald - Roo til end '26

[chaelsonnen]

I love this guy. Mark my words, he will explode to another level next year. Reminds me of a young Luke Hodge.

Hypothetical question:
Josh Kelly for Luke McDonald straight swap. Would you take it?

Sounds crazy and super tough choice, but I'd just about say 'no'. That's how much I rate McDonald's upside/scope for improvement at this point.

 

[Heaps of fun]

Took more contested marks than our ruckman.

 

[muttley45]

Best season to date, deserves a top 5 finish in the Syd Barker, and as old mate Hal Todd used to say "with the very best yet to come" .

 

[Horizons_00]

He's got room to improve even more

Watch out 2018

 

[Saintly_]

Really stepped it up this year. Added flair to his toughness.

One of the few genuine highlights of an otherwise very forgettable season.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

I love this guy. Mark my words, he will explode to another level next year. Reminds me of a young Luke Hodge.

Hypothetical question:
Josh Kelly for Luke McDonald straight swap. Would you take it?

Sounds crazy and super tough choice, but I'd just about say 'no'. That's how much I rate McDonald's upside/scope for improvement at this point.

You would if it was purely about them as players, but with Luke it isn't. You wouldn't trade him for anyone because you need guys like that at your club.

 

[kangaspurs]

You would if it was purely about them as players, but with Luke it isn't. You wouldn't trade him for anyone because you need guys like that at your club.

Yep.

If Luke was just any old promising 22 year old, former pick 8 then you would be asking what else you need to add to him to get the deal done. But he's not. He is the embodiment of the new North.

 

[Kimbo]

Yep.

If Luke was just any old promising 22 year old, former pick 8 then you would be asking what else you need to add to him to get the deal done. But he's not. He is the embodiment of the new North.

And dare I suggest, the spiritual leader amongst the younger blokes.

 

[Benno_900]

I love this guy. Mark my words, he will explode to another level next year. Reminds me of a young Luke Hodge.

Hypothetical question:
Josh Kelly for Luke McDonald straight swap. Would you take it?

Sounds crazy and super tough choice, but I'd just about say 'no'. That's how much I rate McDonald's upside/scope for improvement at this point.

FFS dude

This is Urquhart - Pendlebury levels.

Delete

 

[chaelsonnen]

FFS dude

This is Urquhart - Pendlebury levels.

Delete

Admittedly Kelly is the better player at the moment. But how is it even remotely like Urquhart and Pendlebury???
Firstly, Luke's rookie year had already well and truly eclipsed anything that Urquhart has produced for his entire AFL career (so comparing him to Urquhart is just plain insulting). Secondly, Kelly has produced only one season of elite standard football. One. How can you even compare him to Pendlebury?...and this comparison-set to that one?

So far Kelly has produced one season of 'elite football' more than Luke has (1-0). But I can say with a hell of a lot of confidence, by next year it would be (2-1). I think Kelly is just one year further along his progression than Luke is. Given his year and his final 9 games, I'd be super surprised to not see Luke average something like 26.0 disposals and 0.5 a goal a game next year.

These are his last 9 games since Round 15 (fantasy points in brackets):
Round 15: 31 disposals (106 pts)
Round 16: 22 disposals and a goal (91 pts)
Round 17: 24 disposals (100 pts)
Round 18: 22 disposals (79 pts)
Round 19: 21 disposals and a goal (105 pts)
Round 20: 23 disposals and a goal (67 pts)
Round 21: 22 disposals and a goal (92 pts)
Round 22: 26 disposals (88 pts)
Round 23: 27 disposals (113 pts)

Average: 24.2 disposals + 0.44 goals a game, 93.4 pts

Keep in mind this is coming from a Defender/Midfielder (Kelly is full-time mid). If he moves into the midfield F/T next season, don't be at all surprised if he averages something closer to: 26.0 disposals + 0.5 goals and over 100 fantasy. I'm telling ya, the guy is about to blowup in a big way.

EDIT: Comparison of Josh Kelly from Round 15 to Preliminary final 2016 (10 games):
Average: 24.3 disposals +0.50 goals a game. Very, very similar to the way Kelly finished last season.

 

[ferball]

Admittedly Kelly is the better player at the moment.
...
So far Kelly has produced one season of 'elite football' more than Luke has (1-0). But I can say with a hell of a lot of confidence, by next year it would be (2-1). I think Kelly is just one year further along his progression than Luke is. Given his year and his final 9 games, I'd be super surprised to not see Luke average something like 26.0 disposals and 0.5 a goal a game next year.

These are his last 9 games since Round 15 (fantasy points in brackets):
Round 15: 31 disposals (106 pts)
Round 16: 22 disposals and a goal (91 pts)
Round 17: 24 disposals (100 pts)
Round 18: 22 disposals (79 pts)
Round 19: 21 disposals and a goal (105 pts)
Round 20: 23 disposals and a goal (67 pts)
Round 21: 22 disposals and a goal (92 pts)
Round 22: 26 disposals (88 pts)
Round 23: 27 disposals (113 pts)

Average: 24.2 disposals + 0.44 goals a game, 93.4 pts

Keep in mind this is coming from a Defender/Midfielder (Kelly is full-time mid). If he moves into the midfield F/T next season, don't be at all surprised if he averages something closer to: 26.0 disposals + 0.5 goals and over 100 fantasy. I'm telling ya, the guy is about to blowup in a big way.

EDIT: Comparison of Josh Kelly from Round 15 to Preliminary final 2016 (10 games):
Average: 24.3 disposals +0.50 goals a game. Very, very similar to the way Kelly finished last season.

They're all good points. Still think Kelly is a better footballer well a silkier one anyway. But in 5 years time the difference won't be near as great as it'd seem now. Kelly has amazing endurance and an amazing ability to run and find the ball. But LMac is .. well I don't really want to say who I think he reminds me of a little at the moment. If he had a few yards more pace I'd think the comparison was obvious.

 

[FastLife]

Don't forget Kelly plays in a Star Studded team.

 

[Saintly_]

Don't forget Kelly plays in a Star Studded team.

Which makes it harder to look good, not the opposite.

I've really enjoyed LMac improve this year to become an impressive player, but the initial suggestion you wouldn't straight swap for Kelly is plain ludicrous.

Kelly is in or near top 10 in comp, LMac lucky to be top 100.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Straight into the leadership group next year replacing Thommo

 

[boneofshin]

Straight into the leadership group next year replacing Thommo

Thompson isn't in the leadership group. Swallow seems most likely to make way. Gotta make room for Brown too.

 

[ozzyoslo]

Took more contested marks than our ruckman.

Ozzyoslo likes this.......ooops, did I say that out loud ??

 

[King Corey]

Ozzyoslo likes this.......ooops, did I say that out loud ??

"In an unprecedented move new list manager Ozzy Oslo upped the bid for restricted free agent Dustin Martin by offering Richmond a sweetener in the form of former AA ruckman Todd Goldstein to relinquish their attempts to retain the Brownlow favourite."

 

[Dodecahedron]

Oh captain, my [next] captain

 

[shintemaster]

They're all good points. Still think Kelly is a better footballer well a silkier one anyway. But in 5 years time the difference won't be near as great as it'd seem now. Kelly has amazing endurance and an amazing ability to run and find the ball. But LMac is .. well I don't really want to say who I think he reminds me of a little at the moment. If he had a few yards more pace I'd think the comparison was obvious.

I can see that comparison (I think), that strength through the core and trunk and ability to shrug the tackle is very similar. I think he's a more dangerous kick than You Know Who though.

 

[Heaps of fun]

Going to be a very dominant player. Probably our most well rounded prospect.

 

[ozzyoslo]

"In an unprecedented move new list manager Ozzy Oslo upped the bid for restricted free agent Dustin Martin by offering Richmond a sweetener in the form of former AA ruckman Todd Goldstein to relinquish their attempts to retain the Brownlow favourite."

Just to reinforce my views that we should be using the Hawthorn model regarding Rucks players.....Stefan Martin is rumoured he wants to come back to Melbourne. Brisbane is now chatting to Mason Cox.......he'll cost them peanuts.

 

[ozzyoslo]

"In an unprecedented move new list manager Ozzy Oslo upped the bid for restricted free agent Dustin Martin by offering Richmond a sweetener in the form of former AA ruckman Todd Goldstein to relinquish their attempts to retain the Brownlow favourite."

No, Im negotiating a new major sponsor.......Qatar Airlines. We be renamed the Qatar Kanga's .........Dusty has free travel throughout the rest of his life through Qatar's affiliated partners not to mention partner Hotels within Qatar.

make it happen Ben Buckley

 

[giantroo]

 

[Heaps of fun]

Leadership group this year.

 

[Firestarter]

You can tell the world you never was my girl
You can burn my clothes up when I'm gone...