WITH seconds ticking down, Melbourne required a solitary point to get over the Suns on Saturday night.
Enter, Tom McDonald.
The Demons’ forward got his side over the line at Metricon Stadium by the narrowest of margins, toe-poking through the greatest behind of his career.
“I probably should’ve almost spoiled it through and got the score that way, because I dropped [the mark] which was a little bit embarrassing,” McDonald told Melbourne Media.
“But then it was just get a foot on it, get it through, because then they would have to go the whole [length] of the ground and I knew there wouldn’t be enough time for that.”
After pulling back a one-goal deficit in the final minute of the game, McDonald was fully aware of the time restraints in the dying stages.
“I was very clear that it was equal, so I knew any score would do it,” he said.
“We got the message when we were down six points that there was about 40 to 50 seconds [remaining].
“So I knew there had to be 10 to 15 (seconds) at the very most on this last play.”
Although the scrubby finish may not have been glamourous, it was sweet enough for the Demons.
“It’s probably not the honourable way to do it, but it counts, we won, go to next week,” McDonald said.
Melbourne’s third win of 2019 wasn’t pretty, but McDonald said it was crucial to grind out the game and keep the season alive.
“[It wasn’t] just important, it was essential, I think,” he said.
“If we lose many more games from here we’ve got no chance of playing at the end of the year.
“Every game is absolutely critical and to get the win, it keeps us in the hunt.
“We’re still coming from a long way back, but we just have to win.”
The Demons weren’t clean in attack against the Suns, but they were strong around the contest on Saturday night.
After restricting Gold Coast to just three goals in the first half, the Dees continued to defend with intent all night, laying a massive 99 tackles.
“I can imagine it was horrible to watch,” McDonald said.
“Dewy, sort of slippery footy, low scoring. It’s not pristine football but it’s exciting I guess, and it gives us another win.
“To defend a team and keep them under 70 points is a really tough thing to do in footy today, so that’s a positive.
“But we’ve got so much work to do with the footy going forward.”
Individually, McDonald had his best outing for the season booting three majors from his 11 disposals, as the 26-year-old slowly regains his confidence.
“I’m starting to feel a bit better about myself,” he said.
“I’ve been trying everything so far to get back into form and it hasn’t really come so far.
“Tonight was a good step in the right direction. I still expect more of myself.
“It’s been frustrating because I feel like I’ve been working really hard to get better, it just hasn’t clicked for me this year really yet, like it did last year at times.
“But I think tonight was a bit of a step going forward.”
