After a career-best 2024 campaign, McDonald missed all of last season after undergoing two surgeries for separate injuries.
The 23-year-old first had an ankle operation after the 2024 grand final loss to the Brisbane Lions, having picked up the injury in the preliminary final against Port Adelaide.
The same injury forced his substitution halfway through the 60-point decider drubbing to Brisbane.
McDonald was on track to make his AFL return in April last year, but suffered a stress fracture in his fibula after just his second VFL match.
He has since put his woes behind him, featuring in all 13 games so far in 2026 and kicking 22 goals to help the Swans (11-1) sit second on the ladder behind Fremantle (12-2).
"It's a lot easier being on the field than watching," McDonald said.
"Coxy's been great as well as Jeremy Laidler, my forwards coach.
"They have just been patient with me and not putting any pressure on me to come back and dominate, just letting me build into the year.
"I probably started the season a bit slowly ... (but) I'm starting to feel a bit more comfortable again and being able to back up week to week."
Priding himself on his aerial work, McDonald said rediscovering his confidence has been helped not only by fellow key forward Joel Amartey, but also by former Carlton spearhead Curnow's arrival in Sydney.
The 24-year-old is an occasional swingman and was also deployed on the wing in last round's last-gasp two-point win over St Kilda after injuries forced reshuffling.
The Swans are expecting the worst for in-form winger Justin McInerney (hamstring), while key defender Tom McCartin has suffered another concussion.
"Every training session, I pretty much work on it - that's probably the most important thing for modern-day key forwards is their contests," McDonald said.
"And I've got two of the best at the club in Joel and Charlie, and then as well going against Tommy McCartin, who's so good at it at the other end of the ground.
"So, flogging myself against them at training is only going to make me better, and I'm starting to see a bit of results now."
A trip to Adelaide Oval to face the 15th-placed Power (4-8) is next up for Sydney, before their round-15 bye - not that McDonald needs any time off.
"I've missed enough games last year, so I'm happy for the games to just keep on coming," McDonald said.
"I'm absolutely loving just backing up week after week and being out in the park during the training week and just having a laugh.
"It's the best time of year, so I'm just slogging it out on the track and on game day, trying to get wins."
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