NORTH Melbourne is taking father-son prospect Luke McDonald on its pre-season training camp to Utah, all but confirming the Kangaroos are committed to selecting him in next year's NAB AFL Draft.
McDonald, 17, is the son of North football chief Donald McDonald, a key forward/ruckman who played 155 games for the Kangaroos from1982-92.
North told AFL.com.au on Tuesday the AFL had approved its request to take McDonald on the three-week US camp, clearing the way for him to fly out of Australia with the rest of the Roos' contingent this Friday.
North needed the AFL's approval to take McDonald to Utah as potential father-son recruits can only attend a limited number of training sessions at their prospective clubs prior to being drafted.
The club has yet to officially commit to taking McDonald as a father-son recruit as Melbourne and Essendon did a year ahead of this year's draft with Jack Viney and Joe Daniher respectively.
Viney and Daniher committed to their fathers' former clubs after choosing not to nominate for the 2011 Greater Western Sydney mini-draft, in which the Giants could trade up to four of the country's best 17-year-olds to the highest bidders.
Like Viney and Daniher last year, McDonald was widely rated one of this year's best 17-year-olds, but he, too, chose not to nominate for the GWS mini-draft.
McDonald enjoyed an outstanding 2012 season, winning All-Australian selection as an underage player with Vic Metro at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
He also starred for the Oakleigh Chargers in their TAC Cup premiership season and co-captained his school, Trinity Grammar, to this year's AGSV football premiership, sealing it with a best-on-ground performance in the Grand Final win over Marcellin College.
McDonald is a member of the elite AIS-AFL Academy level-one squad and won Vic Metro's most valuable player award at last year's NAB AFL Under-16 Championships.
One of McDonald's greatest strengths is his versatility. At 187cm, he can play in the midfield, across half-back - where he played with Vic Metro - and in the forward line.
He is also a penetrating and accurate left-foot kick, reads the play well, has a good mix of speed, agility and stamina, and works hard defensively.
Nick Bowen covers North Melbourne news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nick
