NOT MUCH seems to faze North Melbourne father-son recruit Luke McDonald.
The son of 1980s forward/ruckman Donald McDonald had NOT MUCH seems to faze North Melbourne father-son recruit Luke McDonald.
The son of 1980s forward/ruckman Donald McDonald had just become the highest-priced father-son recruit in AFL history when he spoke with the media on Monday.
The Roos had been forced to part with their first pick in this year's NAB AFL Draft, No.8 overall, for McDonald after West Coast bid pick No.6 for the classy left-footer.
The most expensive father-son recruit previously was Joe Daniher, who cost Essendon pick No.10 in last year's draft.
But McDonald did not feel any extra pressure knowing he would cost the Roos such an early pick at this year's draft on November 21.
"At the end of the day it's just a pick whether that's pick eight or pick 100, when you get to the club everyone's treated the same," McDonald said.
"I'll just take it in my stride and work hard from the get go."
McDonald admitted it was a relief to get to North given the club's recent public statements that it might bypass him in favour of another star junior if forced to use its first-round pick.
But he gave the impression he was prepared for whatever happened at Monday's father-son bidding meeting.
Even if that meant he wound up at another club despite spending this year training at North part-time and playing with its VFL affiliate Werribee.
"I just wanted to play AFL footy and obviously the dream was North Melbourne but if that didn't happen I would just have gone about my business," McDonald said.
Perhaps this year helped prepare McDonald for the uncertainties of life in the AFL.
There was plenty of media speculation early in 2013 about what McDonald's likely drafting would mean for Donald, who at the time was the Roos' football chief.
Ultimately, Donald decided to move across to head up North's commercial division, knowing that would take the pressure off his son when he tries to establish himself in North's senior team.
But McDonald said his father's very public career transition had not been hard on him.
"Dad just wanted what was best for me and what was best for the footy club. He's been fantastic all year," he said.
McDonald had not yet had the chance to share his big moment with Donald, who was holidaying in Europe.
But he wasn't going to let conflicting time zones stop him from sharing the news as soon as he had finished his media commitments.
"He's probably asleep so I'll give him the wake-up call after this and I'm sure he'll be very proud," he said.
Not surprisingly, McDonald's overwhelming emotion on Monday was excitement.
After all, he was now officially going to the club he had supported since he was a young boy.
He remembered running around in his backyard, proudly wearing a North jumper and pretending he was Drew Petrie and Daniel Wells.
McDonald has been able to get to know Petrie, Wells and the rest of North's players this year, but the thought they are now officially his teammates was still sinking in on Monday.
"I just can't wipe the smile off my face," he said.
But McDonald won't celebrate his drafting too long, mindful that he has much hard work in front of him to break into North's senior team next year.
He knows North's emerging side will be hard to break into next year, but believes his year in the VFL and at Aegis Park will stand him in good stead.
He is also encouraged by how a former junior contemporary like Taylor Garner broke into North's team late in 2013 and looked at home on the AFL stage.
McDonald hopes he will be able to do the same on a half-back flank next year, but sees his long-term future in the midfield.
"Obviously I'm not a big body like Jack Ziebell and 'Cunners' (Ben Cunnington) and all the midfielders at the moment, but ultimately I want to be a midfielder," he said.
"But I suppose my first couple of years hopefully (I can play) off the half-back."
Twitter: @AFL_Nick. http://afl.to/nickbowen when he spoke with the media on Monday.
The Roos had been forced to part with their first pick in this year's NAB AFL Draft, No.8 overall, for McDonald after West Coast bid pick No.6 for the classy left-footer.
The most expensive father-son recruit previously was Joe Daniher, who cost Essendon pick No.10 in last year's draft.
But McDonald did not feel any extra pressure knowing he would cost the Roos such an early pick at this year's draft on November 21.
"At the end of the day it's just a pick whether that's pick eight or pick 100, when you get to the club everyone's treated the same," McDonald said.
"I'll just take it in my stride and work hard from the get go."
McDonald admitted it was a relief to get to North given the club's recent public statements that it might bypass him in favour of another star junior if forced to use its first-round pick.
But he gave the impression he was prepared for whatever happened at Monday's father-son bidding meeting.
Even if that meant he wound up at another club despite spending this year training at North part-time and playing with its VFL affiliate Werribee.
"I just wanted to play AFL footy and obviously the dream was North Melbourne but if that didn't happen I would just have gone about my business," McDonald said.
Perhaps this year helped prepare McDonald for the uncertainties of life in the AFL.
There was plenty of media speculation early in 2013 about what McDonald's likely drafting would mean for Donald, who at the time was the Roos' football chief.
Ultimately, Donald decided to move across to head up North's commercial division, knowing that would take the pressure off his son when he tries to establish himself in North's senior team.
But McDonald said his father's very public career transition had not been hard on him.
"Dad just wanted what was best for me and what was best for the footy club. He's been fantastic all year," he said.
McDonald had not yet had the chance to share his big moment with Donald, who was holidaying in Europe.
But he wasn't going to let conflicting time zones stop him from sharing the news as soon as he had finished his media commitments.
"He's probably asleep so I'll give him the wake-up call after this and I'm sure he'll be very proud," he said.
Not surprisingly, McDonald's overwhelming emotion on Monday was excitement.
After all, he was now officially going to the club he had supported since he was a young boy.
He remembered running around in his backyard, proudly wearing a North jumper and pretending he was Drew Petrie and Daniel Wells.
McDonald has been able to get to know Petrie, Wells and the rest of North's players this year, but the thought they are now officially his teammates was still sinking in on Monday.
"I just can't wipe the smile off my face," he said.
But McDonald won't celebrate his drafting too long, mindful that he has much hard work in front of him to break into North's senior team next year.
He knows North's emerging side will be hard to break into next year, but believes his year in the VFL and at Aegis Park will stand him in good stead.
He is also encouraged by how a former junior contemporary like Taylor Garner broke into North's team late in 2013 and looked at home on the AFL stage.
McDonald hopes he will be able to do the same on a half-back flank next year, but sees his long-term future in the midfield.
"Obviously I'm not a big body like Jack Ziebell and 'Cunners' (Ben Cunnington) and all the midfielders at the moment, but ultimately I want to be a midfielder," he said.
"But I suppose my first couple of years hopefully (I can play) off the half-back."
