Joel Macdonald (No.28)
Career
Debut: 2004
Career matches: 107
Career goals: 6
2011
Matches: 10
Goals: 0
Kicks: 96
Marks: 65
Handballs: 83
Disposals: 179
Tackles: 22
Todd Viney’s season assessment
Joel was in-and-out of the side and got injured in the middle part of the year, when he was in some good form. He can play tall and small, but needs to consolidate a spot.
Tackles: 22
Todd Viney’s season assessment
Joel was in-and-out of the side and got injured in the middle part of the year, when he was in some good form. He can play tall and small, but needs to consolidate a spot.
Round-by-round assessment
Comments made by 2011 Melbourne coaching staff members Mark Williams, Brad Gotch and Kelly O’Donnell
AFL: Round 1 v Sydney Swans
Joel was very solid for us down back. He gave good support to his teammates down in defence. Mark Williams
AFL: Round 2 v Hawthorn (emergency)
VFL: Round 2 v Port Melbourne
Joel had a really good game. He came with a great attitude. I played Joel in the midfield during the game and he was very good with his stronger body. Joel started getting his hands on the ball and was very good with his physical presence. Brad Gotch
VFL: Round 3 v North Ballarat
Joel had 24 touches and was very good in the midfield and across half-back. He was really good with his hands. He set up a lot of our play inside, which was good. Brad Gotch
VFL: Round 4 - Bye
VFL: Round 3 v North Ballarat
Joel had 24 touches and was very good in the midfield and across half-back. He was really good with his hands. He set up a lot of our play inside, which was good. Brad Gotch
VFL: Round 4 - Bye
VFL: Round 5 v Frankston
Joel had a very good game. He played off half-back and had 25 touches. He set us up well and used the ball well, showing what a smart player he is. He showed his experience. Brad Gotch
AFL: Round 7 v Adelaide Crows (emergency)/VFL: Round 6 v Northern Bullants
I thought Joel was a really good performer. He started at half-back and then went into the midfield. Joel accumulated plenty of touches and used the ball well. His experience showed throughout, which was really positive. Brad Gotch
I thought Joel was a really good performer. He started at half-back and then went into the midfield. Joel accumulated plenty of touches and used the ball well. His experience showed throughout, which was really positive. Brad Gotch
AFL: Round 8 v North Melbourne (emergency)/VFL: Round 7 v Bendigo Bombers
Joel’s leadership was outstanding. His attitude was fantastic. Joel helped set up and organise the backline. He called it as he saw it and took on the dangerous forwards deep and high up the ground. He did it very well and provided some rebound, so I was really pleased with him. Brad Gotch
AFL: Round 9 v St Kilda
Joel started really well on Brendon Goddard, but then we had to move him into the backline when Luke Tapscott went down. It was Joel’s first game back for a while and his hardness shone through. Mark Williams
AFL: Round 10 v Carlton
Joel had a solid game. He took some very good intercept marks and ran straight at the ball throughout the match. He constantly pressured the opposition and finished with a team-high 23 disposals. Mark Williams
Joel had a solid game. He took some very good intercept marks and ran straight at the ball throughout the match. He constantly pressured the opposition and finished with a team-high 23 disposals. Mark Williams
AFL: Round 11 v Essendon
Joel was hard again. He took some fantastic contested marks, including one towards the end of the game, which was really important. His switch of play was excellent, as were his spoils and defensive work one-on-one. Mark Williams
AFL: Round 12 v Collingwood
Joel was very good one-on-one. He took some good intercept marks and his physicality was evident. Mark Williams
AFL: Round 13 v Fremantle
Joel was again really solid, beating his opponent one-on-one, in the air and on the ground. He provided a great example with his physicality and started our counter attack with his effective ball use. Mark Williams
AFL: Round 13 v Fremantle
Joel was again really solid, beating his opponent one-on-one, in the air and on the ground. He provided a great example with his physicality and started our counter attack with his effective ball use. Mark Williams
AFL: Round 14 v Richmond
Joel’s knee swelled up in the warm-up before the game for no apparent reason. He got himself onto the ground and was solid, until his knee forced him off. He continued to play his role for the team, and his teammates loved playing with him. Mark Williams
AFL: Round 15 v Western Bulldogs
Injured: knee
AFL: Round 16 - Bye
Injured: knee
Injured: knee
AFL: Round 17 v Port Adelaide
Injured: knee
AFL: Round 18 v Hawthorn
Injured: knee
VFL: Round 18 v Geelong
Joel gave away two goals on Troy Selwood in the first five minutes. He was then shifted and didn’t find his defensive touch. But to his credit, he kept at it. He also produced some courageous back with the flight spoils. Brad Gotch
Joel gave away two goals on Troy Selwood in the first five minutes. He was then shifted and didn’t find his defensive touch. But to his credit, he kept at it. He also produced some courageous back with the flight spoils. Brad Gotch
AFL: Round 20 v Carlton
Joel was beaten early, but really fought back hard. His physicality was outstanding, as was his ball use. He provided good rebound off half back, and used the ball predictably. Mark Williams
Joel was beaten early, but really fought back hard. His physicality was outstanding, as was his ball use. He provided good rebound off half back, and used the ball predictably. Mark Williams
AFL: Round 21 v West Coast Eagles
Joel gave his opponents too much room defensively. But some of his third man support was very good. Offensively, he won a lot of the ball with 16 uncontested possessions and 12 marks, but his disposal needed work. Mark Williams
Joel gave his opponents too much room defensively. But some of his third man support was very good. Offensively, he won a lot of the ball with 16 uncontested possessions and 12 marks, but his disposal needed work. Mark Williams
AFL: Round 22 v Richmond
Joel was beaten on the day by Brad Miller. As always Joel’s physicality and intent was good, but his execution and positioning on occasions let him down. Mark Williams
AFL: Round 23 v Gold Coast Suns (emergency)
AFL: Round 24 v Port Adelaide (emergency)/VFL: Qualifying final v Port Melbourne
Joel was rated as OK, playing in a variety of positions. He gave his best effort, although he occasionally overused the handball and put his teammates under pressure. Brad Gotch
