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

[CHUBBSS]

Only thing that matters is Nukes footy iq, and we are only just realising it - his got the skills to back it up to

 

[halfback dasher]

Ranked #1 for inside 50s of all NAB rising star eligibles .

 

[Brant]

Pretty sure he was learning a trade prior to coming down to Box Hill.

Was it a trade in Destruction?

 

[CHUBBSS]

How did he slip to pick 26, genuine pace, **** his good

 

[theiaofseed]

How did he slip to pick 26, genuine pace, fu** his good

Covid

 

[hawker11]

This kid belongs - so happy to see him fit in like a glove.

 

[BlackHawk72]

I think we are seeing the birth of a very special player here.

 

[rei154]

I don't think we'll see him win a rising star until the latter half of the season when the body of work noms come in, but jeez he's bloody good.
We're going to have a very good midfield unit in the near future again.

 

[TylerDurden]

Absolute gun.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

He's got class and composure. There's a lot to like.

 

[Brishawk]

(Rising) star!

 

[Jazzfan]

Like others have mentioned, this kid is going to be special. Ward will be an ultra-consistent player for us, but MacDonald has match winner traits not many do. His impact on games already, in limited touches, is brilliant.

He reminds me exaclty of Zac Bailey

33

Zac Bailey

Age

25

Ht

181cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.7

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

5.9

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.2

4star

CL

0.9

3star

D

12.9

3star

K

7.3

3star

HB

5.6

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.4

3star

CL

0.7

3star

D

13.4

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

6.8

5star

M

3.2

4star

T

2.8

5star

CL

0.6

3star

, who I think is going to be an absolute star.

He has that centre-forward game that the very elite do in modern footy.

 

[Del33640]

Is as close to the exact player we've been crying out for in the midfield as you could conceive.

Silky skills, pace, nous, and midfield smarts to burn.

Pinching myself at this point, had no idea we'd land a player like this with our 3rd roll of the dice in last year's draft.

Excited about Ward and Butler too. But bloody hell.... best Connor on the list so far even at this early stage!

 

[KermitJagger]

One thing I noticed was he gave an absolute storming chase up the middle as Docherty was moving the ball through the corridor and made up a shitload of ground late in the last. No reward for it but he ran his guts out trying to pressure that kick.

 

[H00t]

One thing I noticed was he gave an absolute storming chase up the middle as Docherty was moving the ball through the corridor and made up a shitload of ground late in the last. No reward for it but he ran his guts out trying to pressure that kick.

Docherty muffed the kick no? He got close enough that Docherty had to kick before he was ready and instead wasn’t able to hit a free target.

Blues still retained the ball but that was the sort of chasing and desperation we’ve been crying out for.

 

[GinniAndTonic]

I can smell a contract extension.

 

[MrPremiership]

Has been excellent. Shows composure beyond his 3 game experience

 

[PenAndPaper]

One thing I noticed was he gave an absolute storming chase up the middle as Docherty was moving the ball through the corridor and made up a shitload of ground late in the last. No reward for it but he ran his guts out trying to pressure that kick.

Saw that as well, it was excellent. He was clearly stuffed but chased his heart out.
Also loved his fend off, you can tell in just his 3rd game, his confidence is sky high that he is an AFL footballer. He could be something very special.

 

[KermitJagger]

Docherty muffed the kick no? He got close enough that Docherty had to kick before he was ready and instead wasn’t able to hit a free target.

Blues still retained the ball but that was the sort of chasing and desperation we’ve been crying out for.

Yep can't be sure but definitely felt like he affected the kick

 

[SSSSSS]

At what point do we start calling him 'Silk'?

 

[Flukey!]

At what point do we start calling him 'Silk'?

Never.
Only one Silk.
Ever.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

At what point do we start calling him 'Silk'?

Blasphemy

He is MacSmooth though

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Am so glad Mitchell has selected youth over experience e.g. DGB over Hartigan and C-Mac over Shiels.

Really hope we can get Ned Long in to the team soon as well and get a glimpse of Butler and Saunders at some stage.

 

[SJT76]

I think CMac will be my favourite of this year’s crop (haven’t seen Butler or Long yet)

 

[SSSSSS]

Never.
Only one Silk.
Ever.