Player Watch #6 Logan McDonald

[Membling]

Would like at least another step up from Logan in 2025 and feel his development will be hugely crucial to Swans fortunes.

What I want to see (barring injuries)

Goals - 45+
CM - average 1.5 a game

Maybe crashing a few packs through the year would be great tol

 

[Bonz]

Would like at least another step up from Logan in 2025 and feel his development will be hugely crucial to Swans fortunes.

What I want to see (barring injuries)

Goals - 45+
CM - average 1.5 a game

Maybe crashing a few packs through the year would be great tol

His developing really nicely, his preliminary final performance was exceptional until his injury.

Reckon he has this development in him.

 

[Kiama Chris]

His developing really nicely, his preliminary final performance was exceptional until his injury.

Reckon he has this development in him.

I would just like to see him playing a higher proportion of his minutes closer to goal. All down to the game plan. McLean could IMO play further out like a ruckman to some effect. Grundy not great at that role, let him play more like a mid.

 

[The King!]

His developing really nicely, his preliminary final performance was exceptional until his injury.

Reckon he has this development in him.

Yep twinging that ankle was the worst timing, he was looking like the man.

 

[Slingshot Footy]

Would like at least another step up from Logan in 2025 and feel his development will be hugely crucial to Swans fortunes.

What I want to see (barring injuries)

Goals - 45+
CM - average 1.5 a game

Maybe crashing a few packs through the year would be great tol

If you look at our list and the best 25 players from last year, then he absolutely has to be one of the biggest improvers over the summer if we are any hope of solidifying our top 4 status well into the future.

We don't have a danger man inside 50 yet and Amartey's consistency is still questionable at best.

Hopefully, both are the difference makers for 2025 because otherwise players like Starcevich are gonna give our forward line a bath again.

 

[Callipygian]

If you look at our list and the best 25 players from last year, then he absolutely has to be one of the biggest improvers over the summer if we are any hope of solidifying our top 4 status well into the future.

We don't have a danger man inside 50 yet and Amartey's consistency is still questionable at best.

Hopefully, both are the difference makers for 2025 because otherwise players like Starcevich are gonna give our forward line a bath again.

Yes, we want more improvement from Logan - but I think steady, incremental improvement will suffice. It can't all be on his shoulders. They're not broad enough.

Can't agree we don't have a danger man inside 50. Heeney and Papley are dangerous and, on their day, Hayward and Amartey are too. But I agree Amartey is nowhere near consistent enough to rely on.

Finally, I agree that it will make a massive positive difference if Logan and Amartey can be big improvers this season. And given their age/experience profiles we can expect them both to keep improving, especially Logan.

 

[wolftone57]

Would like at least another step up from Logan in 2025 and feel his development will be hugely crucial to Swans fortunes.

What I want to see (barring injuries)

Goals - 45+
CM - average 1.5 a game

Maybe crashing a few packs through the year would be great tol

I don't think he is the pack crasher type of player. Yes, he can take a pack mark, but mainly through positioning, not crashing packs. A little like Reid. Reid drifted across or through but didn't crash packs. Not effectively anyway. McLean is a pack crasher. Maybe Amartey, I am not convinced he is either, he, like McDonald relies on positioning himself where he can get a run at it without impedance. Whereas McLean doesn't give a Rats who is in his way he mows them down. McDonald's value has been as that player who roams far & wide & provides the link from backs to forward, while also drifting back forward to kick the opportunist goal. His use of space is very good & his lead up patterns are also good. I would like more training with him & other fowards, like Amartey, about marking out in from of the face instead of chest marking. We wasted hundreds of opportunities because players were spoiled trying to chest mark. They all have the ability but this guy in particular because if he can get a metre on his opponent he WILL take the mark. Amartey needs to be stronger at the ball. His chasing opponents is great, but his attack on the ball is a bit soft at times. I think Joel is probably a gentle giant. He needs to get some extra grunt to muscle his opponents out of the contest. He's a big boy with a huge frame, he has to use it to advantage.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Yes, we want more improvement from Logan - but I think steady, incremental improvement will suffice. It can't all be on his shoulders. They're not broad enough.

Can't agree we don't have a danger man inside 50. Heeney and Papley are dangerous and, on their day, Hayward and Amartey are too. But I agree Amartey is nowhere near consistent enough to rely on.

Finally, I agree that it will make a massive positive difference if Logan and Amartey can be big improvers this season. And given their age/experience profiles we can expect them both to keep improving, especially Logan.

I think an improvement in forward line structure and tactics will see an improvement in results from both these two and others.
Amartey primarily from the square.
Logan not so far or so often up the ground and he and Amartey leading away from each other to separate the key defenders.
McLean to be further up the ground in a ruckman position to mark a rebound ball if he isn't replacing one of these.
Papley and Hayward can either operate at ground level or provide additional leads.
Warner or Heeney likewise.
This should be a dynamite forward line with good delivery. Marking isn't everything as long as we aren't giving the ball to the defence.

 

[zyzzbruh]

I don't think he is the pack crasher type of player. Yes, he can take a pack mark, but mainly through positioning, not crashing packs. A little like Reid. Reid drifted across or through but didn't crash packs. Not effectively anyway. McLean is a pack crasher. Maybe Amartey, I am not convinced he is either, he, like McDonald relies on positioning himself where he can get a run at it without impedance. Whereas McLean doesn't give a Rats who is in his way he mows them down. McDonald's value has been as that player who roams far & wide & provides the link from backs to forward, while also drifting back forward to kick the opportunist goal. His use of space is very good & his lead up patterns are also good. I would like more training with him & other fowards, like Amartey, about marking out in from of the face instead of chest marking. We wasted hundreds of opportunities because players were spoiled trying to chest mark. They all have the ability but this guy in particular because if he can get a metre on his opponent he WILL take the mark. Amartey needs to be stronger at the ball. His chasing opponents is great, but his attack on the ball is a bit soft at times. I think Joel is probably a gentle giant. He needs to get some extra grunt to muscle his opponents out of the contest. He's a big boy with a huge frame, he has to use it to advantage.

Sam Reid had a solid frame, expert timing and sticky mits. Logan unfortunately does not possess those traits.

He has to try and become more than just a string bean lead up link up player - Hayward does that role to an extent already and is better at it because he has mongrel in him. Logan clearly needs to bulk up to add more presence and impact to his game. I'd be fine with him as is if we didn't need a solid forward option.

Unfortunately none of our 3 tall options have the complete package. Amartey has sticky mits but lacks application. Mclean has a big frame but is stiff as a plank. Logan can read the game but is a feather in the wind who can't stick a mark with slight contact.

 

[Punts]

Reminds me a little of Jack watts

196cm , pretty agile but just can’t get down a role.

No presence

 

[Callipygian]

Logan is a good player. He is fully deserving of his place in the team. Maybe not top 10 but in the starting line-up. I think any stingier assessment is only by reference to either or both the position he was drafted at or our need to for #1 KPF.

 

[Slingshot Footy]

Yes, we want more improvement from Logan - but I think steady, incremental improvement will suffice. It can't all be on his shoulders. They're not broad enough.

Can't agree we don't have a danger man inside 50. Heeney and Papley are dangerous and, on their day, Hayward and Amartey are too. But I agree Amartey is nowhere near consistent enough to rely on.

Finally, I agree that it will make a massive positive difference if Logan and Amartey can be big improvers this season. And given their age/experience profiles we can expect them both to keep improving, especially Logan.

Almost 23 come round 1, five seasons in, I expect a little bit more than 'steady improvement' of a top 5 draft pick to be honest. Is that necessarily fair? Possibly not but we do build our cap around players like Logan and get charged a premium for having top-five draft picks on the list when they still have 'potential'.

I should clarify, I meant a danger tall forward specifically, but I'll include Hayward as a medium tall just for fun. I won't include Heeney as his primary role in the side last season was as a mid (a bloody great goal-kicking one) not as a mainstay forward like in the past, unless Cox has a desire to even out his minutes this season.

None of our talls would spook the opposition scouts or line coaches and certainly not opposing defenders.

McLean is a certified role player and Amartey is no more than a flash in the pan at the moment. That's perfectly acceptable for rookie-listed players who have clear strengths and weaknesses that put them into that category in the first place but Logan was drafted and is currently being paid like a blue-chip player so it does demand a bit of ownership on his part to lead the tall brigade moving forward.

He was well protected with Buddy in the team, and has now had a season without him there, this is the time to prove he's the big dog. Not in a bullocking Barry Hall way but in the mould of a Riewoldt of whom he was compared to in his draft year. Don't get it twisted, I'm not asking for Logan to be the next Nick Riewoldt but I want more than what we're getting.

If he doesn't have the swagger and attitude of KF1 heading into training then maybe he doesn't have the mettle to lead us into the future. That's also fine but when his contract comes up in a couple of years his agent will still be asking for top dollar even if his improvement is only steady with each successive year.

I'm genuinely hopeful of his development but conservative improvement can at most, be only tolerated for one more season.

Perhaps, we'll need to check in and have the same conversation this time next year.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Almost 23 come round 1, five seasons in, I expect a little bit more than 'steady improvement' of a top 5 draft pick to be honest. Is that necessarily fair? Possibly not but we do build our cap around players like Logan and get charged a premium for having top-five draft picks on the list when they still have 'potential'.

I should clarify, I meant a danger tall forward specifically, but I'll include Hayward as a medium tall just for fun. I won't include Heeney as his primary role in the side last season was as a mid (a bloody great goal-kicking one) not as a mainstay forward like in the past, unless Cox has a desire to even out his minutes this season.

None of our talls would spook the opposition scouts or line coaches and certainly not opposing defenders.

McLean is a certified role player and Amartey is no more than a flash in the pan at the moment. That's perfectly acceptable for rookie-listed players who have clear strengths and weaknesses that put them into that category in the first place but Logan was drafted and is currently being paid like a blue-chip player so it does demand a bit of ownership on his part to lead the tall brigade moving forward.

He was well protected with Buddy in the team, and has now had a season without him there, this is the time to prove he's the big dog. Not in a bullocking Barry Hall way but in the mould of a Riewoldt of whom he was compared to in his draft year. Don't get it twisted, I'm not asking for Logan to be the next Nick Riewoldt but I want more than what we're getting.

If he doesn't have the swagger and attitude of KF1 heading into training then maybe he doesn't have the mettle to lead us into the future. That's also fine but when his contract comes up in a couple of years his agent will still be asking for top dollar even if his improvement is only steady with each successive year.

I'm genuinely hopeful of his development but conservative improvement can at most, be only tolerated for one more season.

Perhaps, we'll need to check in and have the same conversation this time next year.

I get what you're saying but I think that Horse playing him quite a bit further from goal this season gone reduced his goal output in favour of assists and structure. I'm hoping Cox has him spending more time closer to goal in a more productive structure to bring about what you're saying.

 

[caesar88]

I feel like once we can let go of the hope idea that McDonald can be a Hawkins/Curnow type forward, and accept that he can instead be a Gunston/Mihocek type forward, then we can be more pleased by him and where he's at.

My gut feel is that McDonald is not going to be the answer to our KPF issue, but he can simply be the answer to a different need within the forward line.

 

[Cadsky]

I feel like once we can let go of the hope idea that McDonald can be a Hawkins/Curnow type forward, and accept that he can instead be a Gunston/Mihocek type forward, then we can be more pleased by him and where he's at.

My gut feel is that McDonald is not going to be the answer to our KPF issue, but he can simply be the answer to a different need within the forward line.

Exactly this, but we don't have that hawkins/curnow type and so Logan is our great hope by default

 

[dosser]

I just had a look at the 2020 draft again and, boy, what an awful draft. While most of the top 10 are not necessarily busts, they would have gone much later in other years. However, if we were do a re-order of the draft in hindsight then I believe Logan would appear in the top 10 again (maybe not at 4, though) so even in hindsight I think we did ok.

It just wasn't a great year to have two top 10 picks.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I just had a look at the 2020 draft again and, boy, what an awful draft. While most of the top 10 are not necessarily busts, they would have gone much later in other years. However, if we were do a re-order of the top 10 in hindsight then I believe Logan would appear there again (maybe not at 4, though) so even in hindsight I think we did ok.

It just wasn't a great year to have two top 10 picks.

While Logan is not proving an out an out star he has deserved his place in the team from the beginning. More than can be said for a fair few of them.
I don't think we rated Campbell at 5 but matched Clarkson's bid. Gulden was a steal at 32. All in all I think we "won" 2020 even though Marc Sheather didn't make it.

 

[caesar88]

I just had a look at the 2020 draft again and, boy, what an awful draft. While most of the top 10 are not necessarily busts, they would have gone much later in other years. However, if we were do a re-order of the draft in hindsight then I believe Logan would appear in the top 10 again (maybe not at 4, though) so even in hindsight I think we did ok.

It just wasn't a great year to have two top 10 picks.

COVID definitely messed with that draft. A huge chunk of a draft class unable to play any footy during their U18s year, which is one of the most important years in a footballer's career. Kinda sad when you think about it more.

 

[Slingshot Footy]

I feel like once we can let go of the hope idea that McDonald can be a Hawkins/Curnow type forward, and accept that he can instead be a Gunston/Mihocek type forward, then we can be more pleased by him and where he's at.

My gut feel is that McDonald is not going to be the answer to our KPF issue, but he can simply be the answer to a different need within the forward line.

Although I'm already familiar with the Gunston comparisons does a forward like Gunston prove as valuable without the necessary ingredients in the forward line that help him thrive in the first place? Does Gunston have the same output without players like Buddy, Roughead, McEvoy to help ease the load?

It begs the question of whether Logan can perform like Gunston if he doesn't have the complementary pieces to support his game style.

If the answer is no then list management has a problem on their hands. We're probably on the same page that Logan isn't the saviour but if that's the case then I don't want to pay him too much more than what we are come free agency.

I know it's not easy securing premium key talls but if Logan needs help in order to thrive then players like De Koning are must-have acquisitions for the club otherwise the whole system will continue to flounder.

Chad's contract will ultimately determine a lot of the decisions list management will make beyond 2025 so I guess we watch and wait with continued hope that Logan's improvement is swift and fruitful.

 

[Callipygian]

I just want to say we have very little idea what Logan is paid. I don't think anyone here can claim "he's on top dollar". I think his remuneration will be related to his performance (with a bit of premium because he's a KPF and they are hard to get). And I do think steady improvement is all we can ask of him regardless of whether we want more. It may be unfair to ask more of him but it's also dumb if he can't provide it.

 

[caesar88]

Although I'm already familiar with the Gunston comparisons does a forward like Gunston prove as valuable without the necessary ingredients in the forward line that help him thrive in the first place? Does Gunston have the same output without players like Buddy, Roughead, McEvoy to help ease the load?

It begs the question of whether Logan can perform like Gunston if he doesn't have the complementary pieces to support his game style.

If the answer is no then list management has a problem on their hands. We're probably on the same page that Logan isn't the saviour but if that's the case then I don't want to pay him too much more than what we are come free agency.

I know it's not easy securing premium key talls but if Logan needs help in order to thrive then players like De Koning are must-have acquisitions for the club otherwise the whole system will continue to flounder.

Chad's contract will ultimately determine a lot of the decisions list management will make beyond 2025 so I guess we watch and wait with continued hope that Logan's improvement is swift and fruitful.

I am of the (potentially minority) belief that a dominant forward is not essential to flag success. I think it's more important that the whole be greater than the sum of its parts inside 50, and I think you need different types to achieve that. If you put all your eggs in the basket of a contested beast in the air, or a dominant forward, there's no guarantee that will work. (See: Carlton, GWS, Adelaide in recent years.)

In that sense I think McDonald performs his role and does it quite well. He's the lighter, more mobile and creative forward that I think teams generally need to complement the dominant, contested beast.

If the issue is that we don't have that dominant, contested beast, then I would think Amartey & McLean deserve more scrutiny for that than McDonald. They fit the bill more than McDonald, they're bigger and stronger, been in the system longer, and have just shown more potential in this sort of capacity than McDonald ever has, be it Amartey's occasional bag of goals as a lead-up, 1v1 brute, or McLean's handful of performances where he is borderline-unstoppable in the air in marking contests. The expectations of them are lower, but that shouldn't mean the expectations that SHOULD be placed on them are then handed over unfairly to McDonald, who isn't even the same type of player. It's like being annoyed at Errol Gulden for playing on the inside but not being the JPK answer we need.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Reminds me a little of Jack watts

196cm , pretty agile but just can’t get down a role.

No presence

Oof

 

[Dubai Quacker]

I think Logan is developing pretty well.

The only thing that nags away at me:

He was taken pick 4 in an incredibly weak draft & his form-line was through DGB. And we’ve seen how he turned out.

So ….. is he REALLY a top-end talent, or just a good player who would have been a 2nd rounder in a stronger draft?

I honestly don’t know. But if we was taken pick 24 instead of pick 4, our expectations would be different.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I think Logan is developing pretty well.

The only thing that nags away at me:

He was taken pick 4 in an incredibly weak draft & his form-line was through DGB. And we’ve seen how he turned out.

So ….. is he REALLY a top-end talent, or just a good player who would have been a 2nd rounder in a stronger draft?

I honestly don’t know. But if we was taken pick 24 instead of pick 4, our expectations would be different.

I think that expectations are a bit of a trap. We know that performance is a bit of a bell curve around draft position and that for whatever reason some crops are better than others. Development is incredibly important, mental, physical and skill.
Judging by the performance of others in his year Logan's pick position certainly isn't wide of the mark. He started straight into seniors and didn't make a goose of himself which would be very unlikely for a pick outside the top ten in a good year. Yes, he didn't have to survive the best defenders but still mature bodies.
Personally, I'm happy enough with Logan, if not totally with how Horse/Macca used him.