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

[roos_fanatic08]

Would have thought it was time for Luke to play a role in the leadership group this year. Surprised he was not included

Happy for him to focus on his on field output and consistency for one more year before making the transition. Its inevitable that he is our next captain imo.

 

[Rockstar6]

Would have thought it was time for Luke to play a role in the leadership group this year. Surprised he was not included

Still very young. You can bet your life on the fact he will be captin within 3 or 4 years

 

[Harvey Manfrenjensenden]

Happy for him to focus on his on field output and consistency for one more year before making the transition. Its inevitable that he is our next captain imo.

Seems like the type of player who would improve when given extra responsibility, but you both make good points.

Still very young. You can bet your life on the fact he will be captin within 3 or 4 years

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

I'm tipping he steps up to average 25 touches a game this year.

 

[The Dingrel]

We've almost gone from a situation of having not enough wingers to too many. Always wanted to get the likes of Atley, Macmillan and McDonald further up the ground, but they were needed down back.

But now with the acquisition of Marley, EVW & Nielson coming through and hopefully Wright coming back, we are pretty well covered down there.

I'd like to see all of Atley, Macmillan, McDonald, Waite, J Williams, Clarke, Hibberd, Ahern, Mountford and Wood playing wing at some stage this year. Too many (although if we have an injury run like the last 2 years, probably not enough).

I agree, and lines up with my theory that with rotation caps, the days of specialist small forwards are over,,,,,and mids who are unreliable kicks for goal as well. Need players to be able to constantly rotate mid/fwd, high endurance base, and be able to kick goals. The preseason pix of Jy looks like he is going through the mid as well. Kid looks like he's come back a beast!

 

[The Nostradamus]

Happy birthday to the future skipper

 

[King Corey]

Happy birthday to the future skipper

You're not in the Hartung thread.

 

[marklovesbeer]

Happy Birthday Lukey boy.

Here’s one of the best NMFC moments from last season.

 

[Jasemon]

Happy Birthday Lukey boy.

Here’s one of the best NMFC moments from last season.

Happy Birthday Lukey.

Geez when you see that footage though it makes you realise how damn good Kayne is when he's fit and in the team.
Superb evasive skills, wonderful lateral movement and awareness, and his handballs have always been bullets.

 

[MaddAdam]

I'm tipping he steps up to average 25 touches a game this year.

And a goal a game.

 

[MaddAdam]

He's showing the most crucial trait on the way to having an AFL career. The boy is resilient.

Yep, that chase down of Rioli and subsequent hamstring snap was so important for his development.

He showed himself he could mix with and beat the elite, he then went and did his rehab diligently and came back even better and he did it in a way he'd love - busting a gut for the jumper.

 

[giantroo]

 

[scottywiper]

Hodgey style slow burner.

 

[ferball]

Happy Birthday Lukey.

Geez when you see that footage though it makes you realise how damn good Kayne is when he's fit and in the team.
Superb evasive skills, wonderful lateral movement and awareness, and his handballs have always been bullets.

Not just that. He gives the ball to Luke and immediately lines up the chasing player for a shepherd, in this case the opposition captain who goes from bald to Dyson Heppell in one short step.

 

[giantroo]

 

[Val Keating]

Really bullish about Luke this year. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t have a breakout season. He’s got the talent & hunger to become a great player, maybe just needs a bit of maturity.

 

[Snake_Baker]

Get him back to the wing

 

[Val Keating]

Get him back to the wing

I reckon he’ll play 60/40 inside/outside. I know you have concerns on his inside game but I don’t share them. He’s a beast in the contest.

Either way, it’s not a bad year to experiment.

 

[Snake_Baker]

I reckon he’ll play 60/40 inside/outside. I know you have concerns on his inside game but I don’t share them. He’s a beast in the contest.

Either way, it’s not a bad year to experiment.

There's no point being a beast if you can't get through traffic once you have got the pill.

On what I have seen, I reckon the inside mid will get shelved for at least a while. We lose out when he can't get his left peg free.

 

[Val Keating]

There's no point being a beast if you can't get through traffic once you have got the pill.

On what I have seen, I reckon the inside mid will get shelved for at least a while. We lose out when he can't get his left peg free.

This is where I disagree with you. I think he can get through traffic, he has shown he can break tackles with his core strength.

 

[Snake_Baker]

This is where I disagree with you. I think he can get through traffic, he has shown he can break tackles with his core strength.

I'm yet to see him burst out of packs and set up on his left leg that often.

 

[GarnerSmash]

I'm yet to see him burst out of packs and set up on his left leg that often.

Did it quite a few times against Radelaide down in Tassie last year if I recall correctly

 

[Snake_Baker]

Did it quite a few times against Radelaide down in Tassie last year if I recall correctly

8 contested possessions and a stoppage clearance?

 

[Flawed Genius]

8 contested possessions and a stoppage clearance?

I'm with Tron on this one Tef

Luke was nigh on untackleable that day

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

8 contested possessions and a stoppage clearance?

He was brutal.

Core strength for days.