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Luke McDonald (footballer)

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Luke McDonald
McDonald in June 2017
Personal information
Full name Luke Donald McDonald
Born (1995-02-09) 9 February 1995 (age 31)
Original team Werribee (VFL)/Oakleigh Chargers (TAC Cup)/Kew Comets (YJFL)
Draft No. 8 (F/S), 2013 national draft
Debut Round 1, 2014, North Melbourne vs. Essendon, at Docklands Stadium
Height 189 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 88 kg (194 lb)
Position Defender
Club information
Current club North Melbourne
Number 11
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2014– North Melbourne 235 (19)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 22, 2026.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Luke Donald McDonald (born 9 February 1995) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited under the father–son rule with the eighth selection in the 2013 national draft.[1] His father, Donald McDonald played 155 games for North Melbourne and was working in the club's football department until he left to avoid any conflict of interest.[2]

Early life

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McDonald participated in the Auskick program at Kew-Victoria Park.[3] He played his junior football with the Kew Comets (YJFL) and his senior football at the Werribee (VFL) whilst also playing for the Oakleigh Chargers (TAC Cup) from which he was drafted by the North Melbourne Football Club at No. 8 in the 2013 National Draft. In 2012 during his final year of school, he captained Trinity Grammar to a premiership in the AGSV competition.

AFL career

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North Melbourne (2014-)

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McDonald played VFL for North Melbourne affiliate Werribee during the 2013 season and attended North's preseason training camp in Utah. He made his debut in the opening round of 2014 against Essendon and played in all but 1 game of that season including the finals campaign. He was voted 3rd in Rising Star award behind Western Bulldogs' Marcus Bontempelli and Brisbane Lions' Lewis Taylor. McDonald played in the 2014 AFL finals series including North's elimination final win against Essendon, semi final win against Geelong where he was named in the bests picking up 20 disposals. McDonald also participated in North's heavy preliminary final defeat to the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium.

In February 2015, McDonald revealed that he had suffered a stress fracture to his back during a match against the Brisbane Lions in Round 15 of the previous season. The injury threatened to develop into a fracture-proper and McDonald was unable to train between games. Despite his injury concerns, he was noted in the media for several acts of courage on the field especially a tendency to 'go back with the flight of the ball'.[4]

During North Melbourne's 2015 season McDonald played 14 games, kicking his first goal in North's Semi Final win over the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium.[5] While many commentators called McDonald's 2015 season disappointing including McDonald himself, in 2016 he regained form as well as his place in the team's best 22. In a round 13 Friday night game however, during a chase-down run of Hawthorn's small forward Cyril Rioli, McDonald injured his hamstring sidelining him for 10 weeks.[6]

McDonald was North Melbourne’s co-captain, alongside teammate Jy Simpkin for the 2023 & 2024 seasons before standing down the captaincy for the 2025 season. [7] [8]

In August 2026 he signed a one year contract extension, keeping him at North until at least the end of the 2027 season.[9]

Statistics

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Updated to the end of round 22, 2026.[10]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2014North Melbourne21 230620718238986590.00.39.07.916.93.72.60
2015North Melbourne21 14101059720244270.10.07.56.914.43.11.90
2016North Melbourne21 15221297920862320.10.18.65.313.94.12.10
2017North Melbourne11 228827618746392940.40.412.58.521.04.24.30
2018North Melbourne11 224824216640895500.20.411.07.518.54.32.30
2019North Melbourne11 13101019319451330.10.07.87.214.93.92.50
2020[a]North Melbourne11 170020913534466440.00.012.37.920.23.92.62
2021North Melbourne11 11021147518957280.00.210.46.817.25.22.50
2022North Melbourne11 2211305141446119540.00.013.96.420.35.42.52
2023North Melbourne11 2210249134383119800.00.011.36.117.45.43.60
2024North Melbourne11 220021198309105510.00.09.64.514.04.82.30
2025North Melbourne11 15001399323267300.00.09.36.215.54.52.00
2026North Melbourne11 17101719326494320.10.010.15.515.55.51.90
Career 235192724581573403110576140.10.110.56.717.24.52.64

Notes

  1. ↑ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

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  1. ↑ Quayle, Emma (7 October 2013). "Luke McDonald 'relieved' to be North Melbourne's top draft pick". The Age. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  2. ↑ Gullan, Scott (7 October 2013). "North Melbourne claims exciting father–son prospect Luke McDonald with No.8 draft pick". Herald Sun. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  3. ↑ AFL Record. Round 1, 2022. pg 88
  4. ↑ Twomey, Callum (19 February 2015). "Young Kangaroo McDonald back stronger, taller". AFL.com. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  5. ↑ "Luke McDonald kicks first AFL goal in North Melbourne finals win over Sydney Swans". Herald Sun. News Limited. 20 September 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  6. ↑ Niall, Jake (19 June 2016). "Luke McDonald set for lengthy stint on sidelines with hamstring injury". FoxSports. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  7. ↑ "Luke McDonald | AFL". nmfc.com.au.
  8. ↑ "North Melbourne co-captain stands down on eve of season". 7NEWS. 21 January 2025.
  9. ↑ "Trio re-sign: McDonald, Blamires and Dawson extend at Arden Street". nmfc.com.au. 6 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Luke McDonald". AFL Tables. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
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