Player Watch #11: Luke "Two Dogs" McDonald (Part II) - Roo til end '26 - 2023/24 co captain w/ Jy

[Chewy Chewman]

I’m actually surprised we’re not using Lmac in the run with player role.

From he did fair bit in his BnF year. Would be such an upgrade it’s not funny.

 

[hellas_johnny]

been saying for ages should be the tagger. Has the tank and is quicker then both shiells and phillips. Last week he struggled but giving him credit that he played pretty well in the weeks leading up. hopefully it was an off week

 

[Ardent Roo]

Goater > Bergman > LMac

Goater>Bergman>Hardeman>LMac

It's not like we don't have fit options.

 

[RossHenshaw]

I’m actually surprised we’re not using Lmac in the run with player role.

From he did fair bit in his BnF year. Would be such an upgrade it’s not funny.

Agree LMac is a very limited player in that backline & at his age has reached his max ceiling. He’s skills are not up to it for the modern game.
I have noticed a vast change in his game this season where he has recognised his weaknesses which we all know are mainly skills based & decision making and now uses his teammates nearby as an easier first option release when he has the ball. Not so many try to break tackles , rush handballs to teammates feet & wild helicopter kicks anywhere or at best down the line to a contest.
I think 1 on 1 he can defend , tackle , pressure & can take a courageous intercept mark when required.
Wether that’s enough to keep his spot in the modern game where defenders are also expected to start offence from the back half is enough? Especially when the likes of better defenders & users like Hardeman , Kerch , Fisher Bergman & Goater mature and come of age in the next year or 2 ? Time & Clarko will tell.
But I think sadly think Lmacs days are numbered. (No matter who he’s dad is)

 

[Reagan Smash]

Was I imagining things or was our captain on Melbournes weakest forward ?

 

[tazaa]

Being carried but his bump in that last play was elite.

 

[Devil Fish]

2 more years after this for Luke Mac…..Not sure where he fits in to our defence when everyone is available….

 

[amaz199]

Much better tonight. That bump late in the game was crucial.

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

Was I imagining things or was our captain on Melbournes weakest forward ?

And often times not on a weakest forward at all!

 

[Better Loosen Up]

Logue
K. Dawson
Goater
Bergman

Don't see how he gets a game in 2025

 

[RossHenshaw]

Logue
K. Dawson
Goater
Bergman

Don't see how he gets a game in 2025

Chom

 

[Hearts to hearts]

When LMac hit a teammate with a pinpoint short pass in the middle of the ground I thought it could be a special night.

 

[Chadwiko]

The on-set of Archer and the massive upside in Hardeman and Goater makes it difficult to see how Luke is best 22 in 2025.

 

[Ardent Roo]

Just awful most of last night. Wasn't able to defend some of the 1:1s that led to Dee's goals in Q1 and Q3. I don't know why we need to look to 2024 to get him out, there's plenty of options in Bergman and Hardeman to at least look at rather than keep persisting.

 

[Roos92]

Gives his all but 90% of the time he receives under mild pressure he just bangs it on the boot. There'll be no place for panic merchants in this team soon.

 

[Possession]

He has served the club for a long time but it is imperative that we move past this guy soon. I don't care what Donald has to say about it. You just cannot have your co-captain be such a momentum killer.

 

[Midas]

Stood up a number of times last night. Got to have a whipping boy. Allow it to evolve.

Obviously you blokes don’t credit the fact that his instructional talk out there might be really helping the rest of the defence perform the way it has in the last couple of weeks?

His teammates aren’t idiots - they elected him Captain and respect his effort and what he brings.

So perhaps you don’t know everything that goes on - he’s been great since he called it out in Hobart.

He’s allowed to make mistakes, not everyone’s a Hall of Famer.

 

[desie]

I had my head in my hands a couple of times late on waiting for him to panic dump the thing as far away as possible but he actually used it quite well.

Kudos.

 

[Roscoe]

If we ditch McDonald who's going to be calling for the seagull passes to no-ones benefit or running in to ruffle a players hair. He's finished now that he can't just call for the ball and stand in the tackle with no effort to dispose. Use the rest of the season to get a few games into one of the kids.

 

[Mr north man]

Attention all North Bigfooty followers McDonald will be playing the rest of this year and will start Round 1 in 2025 in the North AFL as he is protected.
By all rights should be in the VFL but won’t be.
The only way it won’t happen if we take away the list voting rights to name the captain and Clarkson sees the light to stand up to his mate Donald and the rest of his mates to make the hard decision to play him in the VFL.

 

[R00StaR]

2 more years after this for Luke Mac…..Not sure where he fits in to our defence when everyone is available….

Depth will be about it, offers very little offensively

 

[Clarke is King]

I fully agree that in the short-medium term he should not be playing, he simply isn’t up to it. However. there is currently nobody in the twos consistently doing enough to push him out of the side, and while we are playing such a young and inexperienced back 6 (and team) his selection does make sense, despite his many, many shortcomings.

Next year you would really hope and fully expect that one of Bergman, Goater or Hardeman can force him out.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Makes rookie errors, week on week, despite having played close to 200 ****ing games.

Good bump late though.

 

[King Corey]

His commitment was never in doubt. Couple of good moments last night.

But if you watch carefully - teams go through his man.

Smalls easily sidestep him, talls get a couple of quick steps off him and out mark him.

Take away his defensive contribution and you then have to look at his work with ball in hand..

Attitude A+, place in senior team on output TBC.

 

[shinboner spiggs]

He’s in a bit of trouble with Logue on the return, Archer clearly a stayer and Dawson still a good option.