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

[PenAndPaper]

He had a lot of pivotal moments for us last night and so many of them were tackles. He was absolutely fantastic with his run and spread but also his tackles just stuck and often against a bigger opponent.

 

[TylerDurden]

He had a lot of pivotal moments for us last night and so many of them were tackles. He was absolutely fantastic with his run and spread but also his tackles just stuck and often against a bigger opponent.

This. His tackles are absolutely brutal now.
Imagine when he's 25!

 

[humid hawk]

For around half the season Croc just seems to have had an extra gear.

He's got pace and endurance, absolutely silky skills and goes in hard when it's his turn.

And he's still got so much more growth in him. Absolute gun!

 

[humid hawk]

Am just watching the replay now. There's a passage of play in the last 2-3 minutes of the game which is absolutely sublime.

Moorey rushes a pressure kick to the 50m arc. Croc bodies / spoils the dogs player, rushes after the groundball and cleanly picks it up with another dogs player right in his face. Croc pushes off him with a don't argue, accelerates into space and laces the ball onto Calshers chest.

Calsh misses the goal so I doubt it'll be replayed on a highlights package but bloody hell it was good.

Croc has a potent mix of silk and steel and he can run forever. Great to see

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Didnt even make the best under 22 side. Criminally underrated.

I’d go as far to say he was hard done by not making the AA 40 man squad.

 

[Brishawk]

I’d go as far to say he was hard done by not making the AA 40 man squad.

Agreed.

 

[ViperV10]

Am just watching the replay now. There's a passage of play in the last 2-3 minutes of the game which is absolutely sublime.

Moorey rushes a pressure kick to the 50m arc. Croc bodies / spoils the dogs player, rushes after the groundball and cleanly picks it up with another dogs player right in his face. Croc pushes off him with a don't argue, accelerates into space and laces the ball onto Calshers chest.

Calsh misses the goal so I doubt it'll be replayed on a highlights package but bloody hell it was good.

Croc has a potent mix of silk and steel and he can run forever. Great to see

Add to that about a minute prior you see him blowing a gale after gut-running towards defence, then heads back forward with the ball where you see him appear as part of this contest you've described.

Love him. He's so incredibly underrated, but goes hard, and pops up time and time again due to good positioning and hard running.

 

[matey]

He went another level since he got the rat tail. I reckon he should get another one!

 

[daniel23]

Legitimate star of the comp.

 

[The Chad and I]

Connor MacDonald is our Dustin Martin.
He might not become as good a player, but he will play a similar role as a powerful, smart, running fwd/mid.

Here's a fun fact:

• MacDonald and Rayner have almost identical stats this season.
• One of them made the AA 40 Squad.
• The other is a footnote to the Watson/Ginnivan show and hardly gets a mention in the broader football media.

Cameron Rayner and Connor MacDonald AFL Stats Comparison

Cameron Rayner and Connor MacDonald AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

 

[CHUBBSS]

Connor MacDonald is our Dustin Martin.
He might not become as good a player, but he will play a similar role as a powerful, smart, running fwd/mid.

Here's a fun fact:

• MacDonald and Rayner have almost identical stats this season.
• One of them made the AA 40 Squad.
• The other is a footnote to the Watson/Ginnivan show and hardly gets a mention in the broader football media.

Cameron Rayner and Connor MacDonald AFL Stats Comparison

Cameron Rayner and Connor MacDonald AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

His strength is noticeable now, becoming a serious threat in any contest. Hasn’t even hit 24 yet, going to be pretty interesting seeing where his ceiling ends up.

Pretty crazy how quickly he has excelled to. The young core coming through will be a serious threat for a long time.10 years of seeing who’s prime ends up the best… sounds amazing.

 

[mustang]

He went another level since he got the rat tail. I reckon he should get another one!

He became a Padawan, wait until he completes his training and becomes a Jedi, he could be the chosen one.