WITH the revamped interchange rules coming into play next year, the need for greater versatility will come to the fore.

This year, Collingwood’s Leigh Brown took his game to another level with his ability to play key forward and pinch-hit in the ruck. He quickly answered his critics with a premiership medal.

In the recent NAB AFL Draft, Melbourne went for a player of similar versatility to Brown, when it selected 194cm tall Tom McDonald with its fourth and final pick.

McDonald has great endurance, possesses a strong work-rate and continually runs and presents. He can also take pack marks as a forward and fly across the packs, while he is clean below his knees.

Although his footy heroes have included Nick Riewoldt and Jonathan Brown, McDonald said his game was akin to Brown.

"I’ve played my junior footy as a ruckman and key forward - being a taller kid," he told melbournefc.com.au.

"I’m a little bit shorter as an AFL ruckman, but I could be a fill in ruckman or key forward or back if need be.

"I’m mobile around the ground, so I work as a guy in the mould of Leigh Brown, who can play ruck and key forward as well to help out. So I’ll play a similar role to that."

Coming from Edenhope in western Victoria, McDonald travelled long distances to train and play with North Ballarat in the TAC Cup.

While his commitment couldn’t be questioned, he said he couldn’t believe it when he heard his name called out.

"It was the most exciting thing I’ve heard in my life. I couldn’t believe it, and I’m excited to be here now," he said.

"I didn’t know whether I’d be drafted at all."

"I thought maybe as a possibility as a late draft pick from 50 on. I didn’t have any expectations to go any higher than that and probably not even to go at pick 53, so I’m just rapt to be picked that high.

"I was excited, especially at a club like the Demons, because I get to stay near home, and it’s been fantastic."