AFL Fantasy is back for another season, and the team at Footy Prophet will again be supplying NMFC.com.au with premium fantasy analysis and tips for the 2015 season.

Our next Fantasy article focuses on a genuine breakout contender, who has already thrilled North fans in his debut year.

There are a number of things you look for in a breakout candidate.

First, you need form; It doesn’t need to be extended, but a few flashes of brilliance show you what a player can do.

Then, you need games. Young players have to develop experience and there’s no magic way of doing that except through notching up games.

Finally, you need a bit of faith and a bit of magic. Picking breakout contenders is a tough business – but get it right and you get a quality player at a very nice price.

Today’s breakout candidate could do no wrong in his first year. He has the talent, he has the games and he’s looking very attractive in AFL Fantasy.

Luke McDonald was a highly regarded draftee in 2013. Taken at pick #8 in the AFL draft, McDonald has wasted no time cementing his place in the Kangaroo’s best 22.

He played all bar two of North’s home and away games in 2014, and made a strong contribution to each of the Roos' three finals.

McDonald showed he wasn’t scared by the big-stage games either. He collected 20 possessions and six marks in the Kangaroo’s semi-final victory over Geelong.

Over the season, the number 21 demonstrated an ability well beyond his years. He averaged 17 disposals and was very effective with the ball in hand.

As a defender, McDonald was given key jobs on opposition goal sneaks such as Eddie Betts and Mark LeCras. He also used his great skills on the counter attack and spent time in the midfield as well.

McDonald is exactly what you want as a fantasy defender. He collects good disposal numbers and has a solid defensive game which sees him tackle often.

There are a number of reasons why McDonald is ripe for a breakout in 2015.

First, his debut-year numbers were solid, backed up by a few high scores. He scored a ton against Port Adelaide in Round 3, as well as a collection of scores in the 80-range throughout the year.

With another pre-season under his belt, McDonald has a great basis on which to build a breakout season. He's not among the group of other North players on lighter duties.

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At $367,000, McDonald is attractively priced as a potential keeper. You wouldn’t want to try and make quantities of cash off him.

But you might want to take a punt on him forming a permanent spot on your fantasy backline.

If McDonald comes good, the money you save can be spent elsewhere.

The last reason to back the youngster is the fact he mostly avoided the dreaded sub-vest during his first year. Often, first year players are nursed through a season, spending more time wearing the green vest than not.

But McDonald only started as the sub in one of his games in 2014. That means he’s very unlikely to feature as the starting sub in his second year.

His fitness and conditioning allowed him to play for practically all of the season. His output did slow near the end of the year, but that’s to be expected for a player adjusting to the demands of AFL.

McDonald’s spot in the North  backline also seems secure. As breakout candidates go, he looks a pretty safe one.

Grab him while you can.