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

[Johnny99]

Do you want me to post several gifs of other players doing the same thing multiple times in a game? Including members of the leadership group and some of most renowned players?

No thanks.

I know we have more than 1 player that is sh1t.

Jamie "turnstiles" Macmillan has about 3 hrs of video footage proving his "elite" at being shit.

This discussion is about Luke Macdonald.

And I am sorry, if you think we should respect and support a player, just because they play for NMFC.

Fact. We wasted pick 8 on a player who cant kick on his opposite foot. Who isn't fit enough to play on ball. And who is definitely not a match winner.

Meanwhile, a player like Z Merrett, who we could have had at pick 8, is playing terrific footy for the Bombers.

And lets not mention P. Cripps.

He had an up and down 2018. So what does the club do ? It rewards him with 3 more years !

Would the Pies, Hawks, Richmond given a good VFL player, 3 more years ?

And then we wonder why NMFC are on the bottom of the ladder !!!

 

[ferball]

If his body is as you have stated, then yes.

Fair enough. I think you're wrong but that's your prerogative.

 

[ferball]

No thanks.

I know we have more than 1 player that is sh1t.

Jamie "turnstiles" Macmillan has about 3 hrs of video footage proving his "elite" at being shit.

This discussion is about Luke Macdonald.

And I am sorry, if you think we should respect and support a player, just because they play for NMFC.

Fact. We wasted pick 8 on a player who cant kick on his opposite foot. Who isn't fit enough to play on ball. And who is definitely not a match winner.

Meanwhile, a player like Z Merrett, who we could have had at pick 8, is playing terrific footy for the Bombers.

And lets not mention P. Cripps.

He had an up and down 2018. So what does the club do ? It rewards him with 3 more years !

Would the Pies, Hawks, Richmond given a good VFL player, 3 more years ?

And then we wonder why NMFC are on the bottom of the ladder !!!

What about Higgins, Cunnington, Ziebell, Wright, Atley, Tarrant?

Everyone gets wrong footed and nearly everyone in the side has had multiple efforts like that one you mentioned against Freo so far this year.

 

[Dan]

We really missed his heart.

What is that and how does it help the team?

 

[ferball]

What is that and how does it help the team?

Because he keeps fighting for the ball, unlike a bunch of players last Friday.

 

[Themanbun]

What about Higgins, Cunnington, Ziebell, Wright, Atley, Tarrant?

Everyone gets wrong footed and nearly everyone in the side has had multiple efforts like that one you mentioned against Freo so far this year.

This is a really good point.

Higgins sits 5m off the pack and watches as his opponent wrongfoots Ben Cunnington and gets off a pressure free inside 50 delivery. Said delivery goes to McDonald's man, who manages to win a hard fought one on one, and the crowd goes bananas at Luke for 'costing the team a goal'.

It's almost impossible to judge our backline or forward line with what's going on in the middle of the ground right now.

 

[Dan]

Because he keeps fighting for the ball, unlike a bunch of players last Friday.

Fighting for the ball (trying to win the ball) is that what your regarding as heart?

Is this correct?

Because if it is....you’ve just described the vast majority of AFL players.

 

[ferball]

Fighting for the ball (trying to win the ball) is that what your regarding as heart?

Is this correct?

Because if it is....you’ve just described the vast majority of AFL players.

Maybe but where the **** was it on Friday last week?

 

[Dan]

Maybe but where the **** was it on Friday last week?

Winning the ball? It was there....it’s there most weeks.

The execution ie kicking a lot of behinds, clangers, turn overs, handballs finding the feet and players not educated enough by the coaches to know what to do is what is hurting us. Not this lack of heart/effort. I see teams rip us apart with accurate use of the ball, using the corridor.....and we just kick it long or down the boundary line.

 

[ferball]

Winning the ball? It was there....it’s there most weeks.

The execution ie kicking a lot of behinds, clangers, turn overs, handballs finding the feet and players not educated enough by the coaches to know what to do is what is hurting us. Not this lack of heart/effort. I see teams rip us apart with accurate use of the ball, using the corridor.....and we just kick it long or down the boundary line.

No. Last week we didn't try. We dropped our heads and played weak football. It was terrible.

 

[Kimbo]

Because he keeps fighting for the ball, unlike a bunch of players last Friday.

I've seen him lag off, not go in plenty of times. When he does, he looks 'tough' but he doesn't always.

 

[ferball]

I've seen him lag off, not go in plenty of times. When he does, he looks 'tough' but he doesn't always.

I often notice he's the only one going hard down back. But what you're talking about seems a team wide issue atm so it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Val Keating]

Thought he played was pretty good against Port. The knee obviously hampered him but he still went at 92% efficiency. Don’t think he’s suited to how deep he’s had to play.


He’s not got the pace or agility to play on the smalls, and he doesn’t have the size/strength to play on the talls.

Don’t think we can play MacMillan, Wright & McDonald in the same backline. They’re all creative types. McDonald is the best defensively but I’d still rather see him higher up the ground. Hopefully when Marley comes back.

 

[r_boy]

How did this bloke get a contract to 2021?

Oh that’s right, we’re a nepotistic boys club not interested in the highest standards of excellence.

Sack this bloke ASAP and get rid of Donald too.

While they’re at it get rid of the Crockers please. There’s a difference between father-son magic in sport and corruption. We don’t have the balance right and it is obvious to a casual observer!!! Who runs this mess of a club?

 

[Dan]

Oh that’s right, we’re a nepotistic boys club

You’re not allowed to say that.

 

[Orange Peanut]

Wowee this place is starting to tip over the edge.

 

[r_boy]

Wowee this place is starting to tip over the edge.
View attachment 664929

Any review this year should (independently) examine who facilitated a contract extension for Luke McDonald until 2021.

I would particularly like to know whether higher up administration (e.g. CEO) approved that decision and why. Do they just do whatever the old boys in the footy department say?

It’s a completely reasonable question that would provide some insight into our glorious decision makers.

 

[r_boy]

The same questions exist for Brad Scott’s contract extension.

Yes the footy department are shit but you have to question the dynamic between the footy dept and board/CEO.

 

[ferball]

Any review this year should (independently) examine who facilitated a contract extension for Luke McDonald until 2021.

I would particularly like to know whether higher up administration (e.g. CEO) approved that decision and why. Do they just do whatever the old boys in the footy department say?

It’s a completely reasonable question that would provide some insight into our glorious decision makers.

We signed him for three years cheaply (1.2 mill yeah??) on the back of poor form. If he'd returned to his 2017 form that would have been a bargain and as it is we're not paying overs for him.

 

[mouncey2franklin]

Oh dear.

Somebody in the matchday thread said this bloke would struggle to attract interest from suburban clubs.

If he were a no name (i.e. had never played AFL), I honestly reckon he would struggle to get a starting spot in some of the stronger teams in the stronger leagues.

Of course, these clubs love picking up ex-AFL players, so he could walk into one of these clubs.

But on talent and output alone, nah, I honestly reckon he would struggle.

 

[Devil Fish]

Why the hell was he rushed straight back in? He’s been putrid all year. It was the perfect opportunity to say, “We might get Luke to come back through the VFL. Get a bit of form and fitness.”
But no, instead we get, “Luke’s a quality person held in high regard. He’s a first round draft pick and if he’s fit, he plays in our 1’s. It’s as simple as that.”

 

[roos_fanatic08]

He had a contract until 2021...**** me, that is some terrible list management.

 

[tazaa]

He is so far away from being fit and we have Hall, LDU, Ahern and Scott sitting on the couch.
The same Ahern who had 41 touches the last time we played there and belted the premiers.
I don’t know anymore. I honestly don’t.

 

[Ball Dont Lie]

Didn’t look very fit. Definitely could have come back through the 2s.

 

[Gasometer]

Wut