YOUNG Melbourne defender Tom McDonald will be driven back to Melbourne after suffering bleeding on the lung during his side’s 61-point loss to the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Sunday.

McDonald will leave Brisbane on Monday morning and is expected back in Melbourne on Tuesday.

The Demons' player welfare manager, Craig Lees won the job as designated driver. 

The round 13 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee was crunched by the Lions' Daniel Merrett while heading back into a marking contest in the first quarter.

He left the field immediately and was subbed off after coughing up blood on his way to the rooms.

Following the match, Melbourne coach Mark Neeld said McDonald would not be able to fly back to Melbourne with his teammates and would remain in Brisbane for a time as he recovered.
 
"The word coming back from the hospital is that he's going to be OK [although] sore for a while," Neeld said.
 
"Injuries are part of the game … they are testing our depth, but they're not the reason we lost."