James McDonald (footballer)
Encyclopedia
James McDonald is an Australian rules football
er, currently contracted to in the Australian Football League
(AFL). He previously played for and captained the Melbourne Football Club
.
and Alex McDonald
. He is noted as a hard working in and under midfielder. In addition to this, he is also used as a tagger.
In 1995, McDonald suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome
with his VAFA side Old Xaverians.
He debuted in the AFL in 1997 with the Melbourne Football Club
after being promoted off the Rookie list
.
(although Brett Kirk
would break McDonald's record the following season), and capped off the season with a win in Melbourne's Best and Fairest
.
McDonald also played in the International Rules Series
in 2006.
, Russell Robertson
, Adem Yze
and Brad Miller
and was named co captain alongside Bruce in the absence of skipper David Neitz
. However, after Neitz announced his retirement, no captain has been selected yet.
After the 2008 Home & Away Season, James signed a one year deal to continue playing with Melbourne.
, while also working with Greater Western Sydney's Melbourne-based players in a development role. At the end of 2011, McDonald signed a one year contract with Greater Western Sydney. He will be a playing assistant coach for the Giants.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er, currently contracted to in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). He previously played for and captained the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
.
Career
Nicknamed "Junior", James is the brother of former AFL players Anthony McDonaldAnthony McDonald
Anthony McDonald is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne in the Australian Football League ....
and Alex McDonald
Alex McDonald (Australian rules footballer)
Alex McDonald is a former Australian rules footballer who played 107 senior games for Hawthorn and Collingwood in the Australian Football League. He was the number one draft pick of the 1988 National Draft. He made his debut in round 11 of the 1990 AFL season.-External links:...
. He is noted as a hard working in and under midfielder. In addition to this, he is also used as a tagger.
In 1995, McDonald suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue accompanied by other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months, not due to ongoing exertion, not substantially...
with his VAFA side Old Xaverians.
He debuted in the AFL in 1997 with the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
after being promoted off the Rookie list
Rookie list
The Rookie List is a means for Australian Football League clubs to maintain additional players outside of the 38-man primary or senior list. Rookie listed players are not eligibile to play in AFL home and away or finals matches unless they are elevated to the senior list, either to replace a...
.
2006
McDonald had one of his most consistent years in 2006, being named on the interchange bench in the All Australian side and the only Demons player to make this list in that year. He laid a league high and record high 143 tackles during season 2006, breaking the previous record held by Tony LiberatoreTony Liberatore
Anthony "Tony" Liberatore is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Footscray in the Australian Football League ....
(although Brett Kirk
Brett Kirk
Brett Kirk is a former Australian rules football player of the Sydney Swans, and is known colloquially as "Kirky", "Captain Kirk", during the 2005 AFL Finals Series, "Captain Blood" and by teammates as "Hippy". Kirk is a hard working and onfield leader who has played in a premiership with the...
would break McDonald's record the following season), and capped off the season with a win in Melbourne's Best and Fairest
Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal
The Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy is awarded to the Melbourne Football Club player judged Best and Fairest for the season.It is named in honor of Keith 'Bluey' Truscott, a former dual premiership player and World War II fighter ace killed in 1943....
.
McDonald also played in the International Rules Series
International Rules Series
The International Rules Series is a senior men's International rules football competition between the Australia international rules football team and the Ireland international rules football team...
in 2006.
2008
James played his 200th game in a devastating loss to the Western Bulldogs in Round 2. He is part of the Demons' Leadership Group, along with Cameron BruceCameron Bruce
Cameron Bruce is a professional Australian rules football player, who plays for the Hawthorn Football Club after being selected by the Hawks in the Pre-season Draft, as was widely speculated to occur after he quit playing for the Melbourne Football Club, with whom he had played for 11 seasons, and...
, Russell Robertson
Russell Robertson
Russell "Robbo" Robertson is a professional Australian rules footballer, who last played for the Melbourne Football Club....
, Adem Yze
Adem Yze
Adem Yze is an Australian rules footballer of Albanian descent. He was educated at Galvin Park Secondary College in Werribee, Victoria...
and Brad Miller
Brad Miller (footballer)
Brad Miller is an Australian rules footballer, who currently plays with Richmond after previously playing with the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League until he was delisted at the end of the 2010 season.-Early life:Brad is the son of Neville Miller, who played 30 games with...
and was named co captain alongside Bruce in the absence of skipper David Neitz
David Neitz
David Neitz , nicknamed Neita, is a retired Australian rules footballer. The strongly built centre half back who became a full forward was the longest-serving captain in the history of the Melbourne Football Club and the first Melbourne player to achieve the 300-game milestone.Neitz was born in...
. However, after Neitz announced his retirement, no captain has been selected yet.
After the 2008 Home & Away Season, James signed a one year deal to continue playing with Melbourne.
2009
On 11 January, the Herald Sun reported that McDonald would captain the club in 2009. McDonald kicked his 50th goal in the 2009 season.2010
McDonald signed another one year extension that would see him to the end of the 2010 season. He also broke the record for the most games by a Rookie Listed player (238). On 20 August, McDonald announced that he would retire at the end of the end of the 2010 season, saying he felt he could have played on for another year, but that the club came first and the club's decision was for him to retire at the end of the season.2011
McDonald played for his old side, Old Xaverians in the Victorian Amateur Football AssociationVictorian Amateur Football Association
The Victorian Amateur Football Association is an Australian rules football league in Victoria, Australia consisting purely of amateur players. Unlike the Victorian Football League and the VFL/AFL, the VAFA has always been strictly a purely amateur league and has affiliations with both AFL Victoria...
, while also working with Greater Western Sydney's Melbourne-based players in a development role. At the end of 2011, McDonald signed a one year contract with Greater Western Sydney. He will be a playing assistant coach for the Giants.