The Demons swingman retired this season after playing 260 AFL games.
Originally from Edenhope-Apsley and North Ballarat under-18s, McDonald was the 53rd pick in the 2010 AFL draft.
He was third in the club’s best and fairest award in 2012 and 2015 and its leading goalkicker in 2018.
He won a AFL Rising Star nomination in 2012 but his biggest claim to fame and personal highlight of his long career was being a member of Melbourne’s drought-breaking premiership side 2021.
Over his career as a forward and defender he accumulated 29 votes in the Brownlow Medal.
Bombers getting back on the park
The Kyabram Bombers will hit the training track on December 7 for the first time under new coach Daryl Wilson.
That is a Monday evening, and sessions are likely to continue on Wednesday nights and Saturdays prior to Christmas.
The much-anticipated sessions with an influx of classy recruits are creating a lot of interest.
These recruits are the Holman brothers Nick and Tom, former star youngsters Mitch Dodos and Archie Wattt and the well-credentialled South Australian recruit Leyton Chisolm as well as Lancaster recruit Morrie Serra.
Coleambally turned away
Coleambally Football Netball Club has failed in its bid to join the North West division of the Picola District Football Netball League.
The Picola League board has turned down the Coleambally bid, mainly for geographical factors and being outside the league’s existing catchment area.
But the PDFNL has not shut down permanently on Coleambally’s bid and believes there could by future possibilities for Coleambally to pursue.
Coleambally was disappointed by the rejection but will continue to try to have all of its netball grades play at the same location the same day.
For the time being the PDFNL will remain a two division league with eight teams in both leagues.
Club shuttered for 2027
And while on footy in the Riverina, it’s sad to see another club in that area forced on to the sidelines.
The Oaklands and Urana clubs had united to form the Billabong Crows, but they are going into recess in the 2027 season.
Lack of players and volunteer support have forced the club to make the move.
The club formed in an amalgamation in 2004, to play in the Coreen and District Football League.
When this league disbanded in 2007 it joined the Hume League in which it has competed for the past 19 years.
While they won’t be competing in 2027, the Billabong Crows are not done with yet and are working to return in the future.
Murray League ups age limits
There have been changes in the Murray Football League junior age groups next year.
Based on changes introduced by AFL Victoria, the junior age groups will increase from Under 14s to Under 15s and from Under 17s to Under 18s.
These changes are particularly good news for Finley and Deniliquin, respective winners of this year’s Under 14 and Under 18 premierships who could now have the same flag-winning line-ups next season.
The revised age limits brings the Murray League in line with the GVL and Kyabram league.
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