Football
31 March, 2026
Edenhope’s McDonald celebrates 250 Games
Becoming just the 10th and 11th Melbourne players respectively to contest 250 AFL games for the side, Max Gawn and the Edenhope-raised Tom McDonald both celebrated the milestone on Sunday.
McDonald attended college in Edenope before moving to Ballarat to board.
He was drafted at pick 53 in 2010 and played his first match against Gold Coast in Round 23, 2011, at the MCG.
McDonald is currently averaging 18 disposals per match, including 11 kicks, eight spoils and a tackle.
Over the years, McDonald has been part of Melbourne's premiership in 2021, was awarded life membership in 2020, and was the club's leading goalkicker in 2018.
In the lead-up to the match on Sunday, McDonald reflected on both the highs and lows he has experienced across his AFL time.
He said it has been a journey where he has experienced everything he could at a club.
“It’s that resilience to keep fighting, keep your career going for as long as possible and to still make an impact," added McDonald.
He's encountered challenges in both form and injury, often fighting for his position on the side.
“I’ve been proud of the fact I’ve been able to come back from different periods where I probably thought that it was over,” he said.
"I thought I was done in 2020 and then injured my foot in 2022.
"[Proud] to have gone from having aspects of my career where it could and probably should've been over, and then I found a way to continue."
The Demons celebrated the milestone for Gawn and McDonald with a 23-point win against Carlton.