Player Watch #11: Luke "Two Dogs" McDonald (Part II) - done for 2025 after shoulder surgery

[DuckYeah]

I hope everyone reads this LMAC page for the epic 1 on 1 between Speedy and DuckYeah that followed.

Speedy bringing the logic and DuckYEah going full W.G. Grace - getting bowled over and over again and refusing to leave the crease.

Bigfooty exchange of the year

What absolute rubbish. He is a liability. He was told not to dump kick and he was kicking sideways. He even missed targets by 10’s of metres at times.

This team will go nowhere with him in the best 22

 

[King Corey]

Lies, damned lies, and statistics.

Luke has his merits but here's another stat for you - 0 coaches votes in the last 3 years.

If he was doing some amazing unsung defensive job you'd think he'd pull a couple here and there

 

[desie]

The KISS principle was designed with this guy in mind.

If he sticks to that then he’s OK.

 

[DuckYeah]

Lies, damned lies, and statistics.

Luke has his merits but here's another stat for you - 0 coaches votes in the last 3 years.

If he was doing some amazing unsung defensive job you'd think he'd pull a couple here and there

Did I just read zero coaches votes? But he’s a lockdown beast that is a lock best 22 around here? Wow

 

[DuckYeah]

Shazeezal Its not the own you think it is. Just another bias “north players are all jets” opinion

 

[speedy]

Lies, damned lies, and statistics.

Luke has his merits but here's another stat for you - 0 coaches votes in the last 3 years.

If he was doing some amazing unsung defensive job you'd think he'd pull a couple here and there

2025 rd 14 NM v FRE - L. McDonald 4 votes.
Just to discredit you a little bit, but your point still has some merit.

One interesting comparison though, we tried to recruit Brayden Maynard who plays a very similar role to Luke. I would say the majority of us would have rated Maynard as a big upgrade on Lmac. Maynard has earned 4, 1 and 1 coaches votes in 2023, 2024 & 2025 respectively. So I suppose my point is you can still carry out your role without scoring coaches votes.

I’ve said this before, I rate Lmac as an average to above average player, especially in his last 3 years. But I don’t mind defending him because he bleeds blue and white, and is a team first player who puts in more effort than most of his teammates. He is the teammate who would literally pull the hammy off his bone chasing down a player who’s twice as quick.

Some b&f results that most wouldn’t (or perhaps even shouldn’t) give credence to -

2020 1st (and shinboner of the year)
2021 17th (played 11 games)
2022 5th
2023 —- (outside top 10)
2024 9th
2025 17th (played 15 games)

One poor result in the last 6 seasons.

Sometimes I get the feeling ‘happy meal’ gets the hate partly because he has a happy disposition. After yet another humiliating loss, it must trigger people no end seeing Luke with his smiling resting face. That and being part of a lousy back 6, and also being co-captain was the perfect storm for the hate to grow.

Each to their own I suppose. For me, here’s to Lmac having a good one in 2026.

 

[King Corey]

2025 rd 14 NM v FRE - L. McDonald 4 votes.
Just to discredit you a little bit, but your point still has some merit.

One interesting comparison though, we tried to recruit Brayden Maynard who plays a very similar role to Luke. I would say the majority of us would have rated Maynard as a big upgrade on Lmac. Maynard has earned 4, 1 and 1 coaches votes in 2023, 2024 & 2025 respectively. So I suppose my point is you can still carry out your role without scoring coaches votes.

I’ve said this before, I rate Lmac as an average to above average player, especially in his last 3 years. But I don’t mind defending him because he bleeds blue and white, and is a team first player who puts in more effort than most of his teammates. He is the teammate who would literally pull the hammy off his bone chasing down a player who’s twice as quick.

Some b&f results that most wouldn’t (or perhaps even shouldn’t) give credence to -

2020 1st (and shinboner of the year)
2021 17th (played 11 games)
2022 5th
2023 —- (outside top 10)
2024 9th
2025 17th (played 15 games)

One poor result in the last 6 seasons.

Sometimes I get the feeling ‘happy meal’ gets the hate partly because he has a happy disposition. After yet another humiliating loss, it must trigger people no end seeing Luke with his smiling resting face. That and being part of a lousy back 6, and also being co-captain was the perfect storm for the hate to grow.

Each to their own I suppose. For me, here’s to Lmac having a good one in 2026.

Fair response mate.

 

[the big lebowski]

Lies, damned lies, and statistics.

Luke has his merits but here's another stat for you - 0 coaches votes in the last 3 years.

If he was doing some amazing unsung defensive job you'd think he'd pull a couple here and there

Round 15 - 2024

Melbourne vs North Saturday Night @ the G

Melbourne got out to a 5 goal lead, North stormed home and lost by a couple of points.

You may remember this game for Archer destroying Fritsch to the point of Fristsch being completely ineffectual on the game.

Coaches votes were

9
Luke Davies-Uniacke (NMFC)
8
Steven May (MELB)
7
Jack Viney (MELB)
3
Cameron Zurhaar (NMFC)
2
Harry Sheezel (NMFC)
1
Trent Rivers (MELB)

Thus coaches votes are irrelevant when looking at lockdown defenders and whether they did their job well or not

 

[Shazeezal]

Shazeezal Its not the own you think it is. Just another bias “north players are all jets” opinion

Nah. Pretty sure Speedy owned you.
In the epic battle, Speedy was the guy in white ...




The full replay is already up on youtube ...

 

[DuckYeah]

Would not get a game at any other club in the comp.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

Lies, damned lies, and statistics.

Luke has his merits but here's another stat for you - 0 coaches votes in the last 3 years.

If he was doing some amazing unsung defensive job you'd think he'd pull a couple here and there

Surely Brad Scotts could have slipped him a vote for the match-winning pass to 2-meter Peter in the * game earlier this year.

 

[Shinboner1]

still around?

 

[ChopChopDigDig]

2025 rd 14 NM v FRE - L. McDonald 4 votes.
Just to discredit you a little bit, but your point still has some merit.

One interesting comparison though, we tried to recruit Brayden Maynard who plays a very similar role to Luke. I would say the majority of us would have rated Maynard as a big upgrade on Lmac. Maynard has earned 4, 1 and 1 coaches votes in 2023, 2024 & 2025 respectively. So I suppose my point is you can still carry out your role without scoring coaches votes.

I’ve said this before, I rate Lmac as an average to above average player, especially in his last 3 years. But I don’t mind defending him because he bleeds blue and white, and is a team first player who puts in more effort than most of his teammates. He is the teammate who would literally pull the hammy off his bone chasing down a player who’s twice as quick.

Some b&f results that most wouldn’t (or perhaps even shouldn’t) give credence to -

2020 1st (and shinboner of the year)
2021 17th (played 11 games)
2022 5th
2023 —- (outside top 10)
2024 9th
2025 17th (played 15 games)

One poor result in the last 6 seasons.

Sometimes I get the feeling ‘happy meal’ gets the hate partly because he has a happy disposition. After yet another humiliating loss, it must trigger people no end seeing Luke with his smiling resting face. That and being part of a lousy back 6, and also being co-captain was the perfect storm for the hate to grow.

Each to their own I suppose. For me, here’s to Lmac having a good one in 2026.

Surprised that he played 15 games in 2025. Seemed to start pretty well but thought he missed much more than 8 games. Hoping with a bit of better team defence he can get back to 2020 impact.

 

[DuckYeah]

Surprised that he played 15 games in 2025

Makes two of us

 

[Blightys Barrel]

Did I just read zero coaches votes? But he’s a lockdown beast that is a lock best 22 around here? Wow

I wonder how many other Captains in the last 3 years (LMac only 2 out of 3) went 0 in the coaches votes? Me thinks very very few.

 

[ferball]

New rule among a host of changes ahead of 2026

SHRUGGING IN THE TACKLE​

A shrug in a tackle will now be deemed prior opportunity. It will be similar to how a fend, or an attempt to evade a tackle is deemed prior opportunity.

No problem for Lmac and his reverse shrug

I haven't been taking any notice of the changes and seeing this makes me think WTF.

What's next?

"Taking possession of the ball will be seen as prior opportunity".

 

[zoomba23]

I haven't been taking any notice of the changes and seeing this makes me think WTF.

What's next?

"Taking possession of the ball will be seen as prior opportunity".

LDU's gonna get pinged weekly for unsuccessful tackles made on him. Joy

 

[DuckYeah]

I haven't been taking any notice of the changes and seeing this makes me think WTF.

What's next?

"Taking possession of the ball will be seen as prior opportunity".

I thought Greg Swan would have been good for the fabric of the game. Just pushing it further down the gurgler isn’t he?

 

[kool kangas]

l'm thinking by mid season it will be " break glass in case of emergency" regarding Luke and playing in the AFL mens team. our younger players will push him out.

 

[The Nostradamus]

i actually think he will play taller next year as the athletic 3rd tall defender (eventually goater to replace him)

arch takes the small forward

chom and griff take the 2 kpf

then you have kerch/hardeman as rebounders off hbf

 

[Frank Thring]

I look at it this way, which of the prelim teams of 2025 would LMAC get a game with. Hawthorn? nup Geelong? nup. Brisbane? nup and Collingwood? nup.

In fact the only teams I could see LMac get a game for is Richmond, West Coast, Carlton and Essendon and they're all just as shit as us. Time to raise the bar across half back.

 

[ferball]

I thought Greg Swan would have been good for the fabric of the game. Just pushing it further down the gurgler isn’t he?

Its a bit sus.

What's the difference between shrugging a tackle and trying to get your arms clear for a disposal? Its basically the same movement. If you can't get your arms clear its cos the tackle is effective. That's a stoppage not a free kick worthy play.

The ruck thing is unclear. I hated it when League supporters would call footy "cross country basketball". Now centre bounces are basically basketball jump balls by the look of it. Or else its back to rucks doing PCLs.

Don't mind a couple of he changes but fixing stupid problems while creating more isn't exactly smart.

 

[King Corey]

I look at it this way, which of the prelim teams of 2025 would LMAC get a game with. Hawthorn? nup Geelong? nup. Brisbane? nup and Collingwood? nup.

In fact the only teams I could see LMac get a game for is Richmond, West Coast, Carlton and Essendon and they're all just as shit as us. Time to raise the bar across half back.

Myth.

View attachment 2111526

"Trade me? What do you mean?"

"Well you don't have to go mate. Just thinking you want to play senior footy and opportunities will be a lot tougher next year"

"Why?"

"We've got a premium player who's serious about coming over. You guys will be going head to head for a spot. This guy is a club captain, big fish for our little community club to land"

(long silence) "Sicily?"

"No, Luke McDonald"

(long silence) "The guy with the beard?"

"No he shaved it off mate"

"But.. You said a club captain?"

"He is"

"You can't be .. you're replacing me with a guy who used to have a beard who I can't even remember us ever mentioning during oppo strategy sessions?"

"Don't make this awkward. He'd walk into any best 22. Go and get showered mate we'll talk later"

 

[kanga kanga kanga]

View attachment 2111526

"Trade me? What do you mean?"

"Well you don't have to go mate. Just thinking you want to play senior footy and opportunities will be a lot tougher next year"

"Why?"

"We've got a premium player who's serious about coming over. You guys will be going head to head for a spot. This guy is a club captain, big fish for our little community club to land"

(long silence) "Sicily?"

"No, Luke McDonald"

(long silence) "The guy with the beard?"

"No he shaved it off mate"

"But.. You said a club captain?"

"He is"

"You can't be .. you're replacing me with a guy who used to have a beard who I can't even remember us ever mentioning during oppo strategy sessions?"

"Don't make this awkward. He'd walk into any best 22. Go and get showered mate we'll talk later"

This is good

 

[shinboner magic]

Last season he was better than his previous 2-3 seasons but he still isn’t up to the level consistently.