Tom MCDONALD

2017 Digest:   Ultra-important structural piece in defence. Has had a strong pre-season and worked hard on decision-making and ball use.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

1	StK	Played a strong game down back and directed operations from defence to thwart St Kilda.	7
2	Carl	Took some good marks and saved the day a few times with some timely spoils. Overall, a nice game to build on.	7
3	Geel	Hawkins had his measure on a day that wasn’t his. Tried to attack but that’s not his go.	3
4	Frem	Dropped marks, spoiled when he should have marked, cleaned bowled by ground balls and gave too much room to opponent.	4
5	Rich	Did some excellent things coming out of back half in an attacking sense, but opponent snagged six and was the difference.	5
6	Ess	Big ball-winner in defensive half and back to some better form. Took 12 marks and floated forward for a goal.	7
7	Haw	“Top bunk” McDonald spent time on variety of opponents. Tried to run and create but did struggle to defend at times.	5
8	Adel	Switched to the forward line in the second half and kicked the first two goals of the third term to give Melbourne back the lead.	7
9	NM	Started forward but that didn’t work. Why he wasn’t moved to Ben Brown was head-scratching.	6
10	GCS	Did nothing in attack, then shifted into the ruck at times and gave a good contest.	4
11		Bye.
12	Coll	Started forward, then had to go back at stages. Even thrown into ruck and did some handy follow-up work.	5
13	WB	Vied for best afield honors with a lion-hearted effort in the ruck and pushing forward.	8
14	WCE	Superb. Kicked the match winning goal and that was his fifth for the game.	9
15	Syd	Kicked an early goal and tried hard, but starved for chances in attack. Spent time up the ground too.	5
16	Carl	Played forward and proved to be one of the match-winners with four goals from 10 kicks.	8
17	Adel	Just the one goal with Talia his man. Worked hard up the ground, but wasn’t able to have a major influence.	4
18	Port	Got the Dees first goal and continued to work hard. Thrown into the ruck when Gawn was off the ground.	6
19	NM	Copped an early knock to cheek, but a hard worker in attack. Kicked two goals.	6
20	GWS	Copped a knock to the face near half time, but only one touch in opening hour. Competed hard, but not his day.	4
21	StK	Used in defence with Frost being out and was good at patrolling space – especially early on. Took some good marks.	7
22	Bris	Had his hands full with Hipwood and wasn’t able to provide usual rebound from back half.	3
23	Coll	Started on Moore, but also got stuck on Elliott at stages. Turnovers in final term were killers.	3

2016 Season

1	GWS	Copped a knock to his shoulder but returned and took some strong marks. Kicking was good.	7
2	Ess	Decision-making consistently sub-standard and defensive work on Daniher non-existent.	1
3	NM	Much better defensively than last week keeping Petrie relatively quiet.	6
4	Coll	Battled Moore and won that battle on the day, although the kid worried him at times in second half.	6
5	Rich	Battled Riewoldt at times ands had hands full but kept persisting. Ball use not exactly first class.	4
6	StK	Torched by Riewoldt and gave too much latitude.	2
7	GCS	Lynch took the honors early but then the supply dried up.	4
8	WB	Real problems early on Redpath early and switched up on Stringer as well. Ball use questionable.	5
9	Bris	The best of the three tall backs and positioned himself better than in previous weeks.	6
10	Port	Big job on Dixon and soundly beaten but wasn’t aided by lack of pressure further afield.	5
11	Haw	The better of the brothers but still beaten a few times in defence at the wrong time.	4
12	Coll	Battled Cox and kept him to two goals in a reasonable effort. No glaring errors.	6
13	Syd	Had Franklin. Off early with leg issue, but returned. Not beaten one on one but Buddy got four.	5
15	Adel	Intercepted well, but continues to let himself down with disposal and the options he chooses.	4
16	Frem	Stood Pavlich and used ball expertly in first half. Freo skipper ended with three.	7
17	StK	Hot and cold form continued in defence. Decision-making at times was average but did kick it OK.	6
18	WCE	Kept Kennedy to three goals, but made some very costly skill errors.	5
19	GCS	Gave Lynch too much room early and nearly made to pay late for overextending. One howler.	5
20	Haw	Did a solid job on Gunston for the most part. No glaring skill errors this week.	5
21	Port	Restricted the influence of Dixon and won his fair share of footy.	7
22	Carl	Did a decent defensive job on Casboult. One of the few winners.	6
23	Geel	Turned the ball over all day and had six kicked on him by Hawkins.	2

2015 Season

1	GCS	Near best afield in back half. Backed himself to run off opponent and used ball well.	8
2	GWS	Fine performance from start to finish in defence. Beat Cameron despite being under siege.	8
3	Adel	Excellent job on Walker despite conceding three goals.	7
4	Rich	Riewoldt got a lot of ball, but mostly outside 50. Provided run and intercept marks again.	7
5	Frem	Another big effort down back. Took Clarke mostly and provided good rebound.	7
6	Syd	Super duel with Franklin. Held him goalless but both players had an impact.	7
7	Haw	Heroic in opening half under waves of pressure. Dees’ best again.	7
8	WB	Kept Stringer to two goals and attacked when he could from back half.	6
9	Port	Had a few different opponents and battled hard.	6
10	Coll	Conceded four first-term goals to Cloke and that rocked his confidence.	3
11	StK	Another tough outing and seemed to lose confidence with each mistake.	4
12	Geel	From chocolates to boiled lollies down back. Cloke mauling looks to have killed mojo.	4
14	WCE	Towelled up by Darling. In shocking form – seems to be over-thinking things.	3
15	Ess	Could have been hero forward after having his pants pulled down by Daniher.	5
16	Bris	Started forward with two goals then returned to defence. Back in form.	7
17	StK	Started forward and got some confidence up then went to defence.	4
18	Coll	Totally blanketed Moore and shut down a lot of attacks.	7
19	NM	Got on top of Petrie in another solid defensive display.	7
20	WB	Made some blues but was the only Demon to play with positivity all afternoon.	7
21	Carl	Melbourne’s best in disgraceful first half. Battled his heart out.	7
22	Frem	Rotated opponents. Had Pavlich at times. Did OK.	5
23	GWS	Stood Cameron and had the better of the matchup. Ended season like he started.	7

2014 Season

1	StK	As usual matched up on Riewoldt but corked leg early and couldn’t stay with him.	4
2	WCE	Tried hard down back carrying a corked thigh. Not the worst.	6
3	GWS	Stuck to his guns on Cameron and kept him within reasonable limits.	5
4	Carl	Beat Henderson for three quarters and superb all day.	8
5	GCS	Had his hands full in defence with Lynch and Day. Used speed to break lines at times.	4
6	Syd	Held Buddy until he was subbed. Decision-making and skills still a concern.	6
7	Adel	Came out even with his opponent Podsiadly.	5
8	WB	Led to the ball by Jones a few times but improved by hand and foot.	5
9	Rich	Bit off more than he could chew a couple of times but had a crack.	4
11	Port	Defended stoutly opposed to Westhoff after a slow start.	6
12	Coll	Allowed opponents room to lead up and made some bad errors with ball in hand.	4
13	Ess	Kept Daniher to just one goal and found a way to get a fist in. Key involvements late.	6
14	NM	Petrie had the better of him on the lead and was haphazard exiting defence.	4
15		Calf.
16	Frem	Got a lot of ball on Mayne down back. Clearly the Dees best.	7
17	Geel	Battled Kersten and OK on him. Only four effective disposals indicates impact.	3
18	Port	Played higher up field than normal and showed another side to his game.	6
19	Bris	Got fist in down back but like others eventually caved under weight of Lions’ ball.	4
20	Haw	Had a turn on Roughead and was beaten. Kicking is a huge worry.	4
21	GWS	A calamity waiting to happen with ball in hand. Confidence dropped as day wore on.	4
22	WCE	Darling kicked three first term goals on him. Lacking confidence.	3
23	NM	Kicked first two goals of league career, but wasn’t as tight down back as normal.	5
QF		–
SF		–
PF
GF		–

2013 Season

1	PM	Got through OK on return from ankle injury.	–
2	Ess	Lacks AFL standard kicking, decision-making and awareness skills. Struggled.	2
3	WCE	Won plenty of the footy but disposal a worry. Found Darling a real handful.	5
4	GWS	O’hAilpin caused him all sorts of troubles in opening three quarters.	4
5	Bris	All at sea again down back. Lacks the smarts right now at this level.	3
6	Carl	Made a few howlers. Has to learn to play within his limitations. Might need a rest.	2
7		Shoulder.
8		Shoulder.
9		Shoulder.
10		Shoulder.
11	Coll	Had Lynch at times and OK. Something to work with but need to polish skills.	4
13	StK	Again did a good job on Riewoldt but couldn’t quell him completely.	6
14	WB	Sensational performance at centre half back. Displayed cool head.	8
15	Syd	Did some good things but found Tippett a handful when on him late.	5
16	Geel	Found Podsiadly a handful at times but a great learning experience.	5
17	Bris	Did a good job on Lisle and provided more rebound than in past weeks.	6
18	NM	Battled hard against a sea of numbers. Not disgraced.	6
19	GWS	Had the big job on Cameron and stuck to it well, but the Giant still kicked four.	5
20	GCS	Parked in defence on Dixon for most of night. No great impression on game.	3
21	Frem	Had Pavlich’s measure until leaving the field. Returned later when Pav had his tail up.	6
22	Adel	Had the unenviable task of playing on Thompson and came off second.	5
23	WB	Eye-catching display from star of future. Not afraid to dash out of last line.	7
QF
SF
PF
GF

2012 Season

1	VFL	Kicked three goals and shone for Casey.	–
2	WCE	Overcame early errors with disposal to show his dogged attitude.	5
3	Rich	Young defender certainly wasn’t the worst. Great learning experience.	4
4	WB	Couple of defensive errors by the kid.	4
5	StK	Surprise match-up on Riewoldt; did great job for all but closing stages.	7
6	Geel	Had Brown’s measure and was a solid defender all afternoon.	7
7	Haw	Showed a few good signs at times down back.	4
8	Syd	Hands full with a series of opponents, but nowhere near Demons’ worst.	4
9	Carl	Youngster did some good things and was handy. Dees might have found one.	6
10	Ess	Claimed another big scalp in Hurley.	6
11	Coll	OK defensively and will learn plenty from playing in a big game.	4
13	GWS	Had Patton covered and tried hard to run off – disposal a concern.	6
14	Bris	Injured in a clash with Merrett and was subbed out.	1
16	Frem	Superb first half helped side to a lead. Petered out a little but played OK.	6
17	Port	Read play well in defence and wasn’t afraid to leave his man.	6
18	NM	His development is one of the positives to come from the Demons’ season.	6
19	GCS	Developing well. Solid effort but skills are among the worst in the comp.	6
20	StK	Continues to impress in defence. Job made easier by Riewoldt’s exit.	6
21	GWS	Coach Neeld was keen on one-percenters and he had six of them.	5
22	Adel	Had the job early on Tippett and handled him okay.	4
23	Frem	Did well. Took marks and set up play from defence.	6