DOB: 13 June 1972
Debut: Round 4, 1997 against Western Bulldogs at MCG
Last Game: Round 19, 2002 against West Coast at Subiaco
From: Waubra/St Patrick's/Ballarat YCW/Carlton/Coburg/Hawthorn/Old Xaverians/Melbourne, selection #59, 1996 National Draft
Number: 49 (1996 Reserves), 35 (1997-2002)
Honours
Grand Final team - 2000
150 Heroes selection
Best First Year Player - 1997
Reserves Best and Fairest - 1996
Games: 104
Goals: 41
Career Statistics
Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
49 | 0 | 55 | 47.11 |
One of three McDonald brothers in the league, with Alex and future MFC captain James, Anthony played nine games with the Carlton Reserves before joining VFA side Coburg. Carlton drafted him to their senior list at the 1991 National Draft but he was cut before the season began. Hawthorn picked him in the 1992 Mid-Season Draft, but he was dropped from the list at the end of the year.
McDonald returned to the amateurs and played three seasons for Old Xavs before Melbourne picked him as a supplementary list player after he played in a 1995 VAFA premiership. After winning the Reserves Best and Fairest he was drafted to the senior list. In his first season he was named Best First Year Player, and was one of Melbourne's best in their 1998 finals run. A disappointing 1999 campaign saw him spend time in the Reserves, before recapturing form in 2000, playing all 25 games, including the Grand Final. He played another 20 games in 2001, but only five in 2002 before retiring at the end of the year.
The McDonald brothers were only the third set of three brothers to each play 100 games of VFL/AFL football.
After his retirement McDonald played at Parkmore in the Southern Football League and stayed involved with Melbourne as the club as a part-time runner, eventually working in the role full-time. He won another premiership with Old Xaverians in 2005.
Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
1997 | 19 | 7 | 0 |
1998 | 24 | 12 | 0 |
1999 | 11 | 4 | 0 |
2000 | 25 | 11 | 2 |
2001 | 20 | 6 | 3 |
2002 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Tribunal Record
Match | Charge | Sanction | |
Round 1, 2000 | Wrestling | $1200 fine |
Lists
Family
Family at other clubs
VFA
Notes
May also be from Damascus College
Media
Age - 06/05/2000
Herald Sun - 06/08/2000
Links
Australian Rules Football profile
Australian Rules Football Wiki profile
Demonwiki image gallery
Draftguru profile
Old Xavs
VFA Project profile
Wikipedia profile