VERSATILE tall Tom McDonald says he’s happy to fulfill any role for the team –whether it’s in his familiar defensive role, as a pinch-hitting ruckman or as a key forward, where he impressed yet again in Melbourne’s round 16 win.
McDonald booted a game-high four goals in the red and blue’s thrilling eight-point win over Carlton at the MCG on Sunday. But the 24-year-old said he was happy to play multiple roles for the team.
“Maybe [I’m] a swingman. I actually don’t know what’s going to happen for the rest of the year or the next year or going forward,” he told Melbourne TV.
“Whatever they need me to play [I’ll do]. If they have an injury somewhere and I have to go back – I’ll go back. If I’m in the ruck again – and if they need me to play ruck, I’ll do that. To be honest, I’ll just take it each week.
“Whenever Goody (Simon Goodwin) or Chappy (Chaplin) comes to me, I’ll do that – and do that to the best of my ability.”
The leadership group member said the work of his teammates had also helped him in attack.
“I’m just working on my technique as a forward and where to go. I’m still learning a lot of things and how to play the position,” he said.
“Some things, I need to do a lot of work on and some are starting to go well, so it’s been really exciting. It’s good to have a guy like Jesse [Hogan] back again as well this week.
“Some of the smalls like [Alex] Neal-Bullen is doing a great job down there and they’re putting me in the right spots, so I’m really enjoying my time down there at the moment.”
McDonald, who has kicked an impressive 18.4 this year, added that conversion had been a focus.
“I’ve put a bit of work into it with Troy Chaplin and simplified it a bit, and focused on head down over the ball, and making it as straight as possible,” he said.
“I find I kick well when everything is in line, rather than kicking across my body.
“I don’t know if it’s luck, or if I’m on a streak, or if it’s a good technique that’s working well, but so far I’ve been really pleased with the results. But I’ll keep working on it and trying to improve as well.”
Honing in on Melbourne’s ninth win of the season, McDonald said it was a scrappy win, but one the team would take in a tight season.
“To get through and get a win in the circumstances and grind it out [was good]. It was a bit like our first game against Carlton – albeit a little bit closer on the scoreboard,” he said.
“It was a bit of a dour game and a lot of mistakes, but the team that held on the longest got there in the end – and luckily that was us. So, it is satisfying to get that one.
“It’s a bit hard to read at the moment, because I don’t think we played that well, but I don’t think it was a terrible game either.”
