Over the month of October, NMFC.com.au will be reviewing each player’s 2014 season.

Season highlights, their statistics and quotes from the player from the course of the year will be included.

Season statistics

Games: 23
Disposals: 389
Disposal efficiency: 75.8%
Marks: 86
Rebound 50’s: 59

More statistics in the player profile

Season highlights

Round 3 v Port Adelaide
- 23 disposals (season high), 8 tackles (season high)

Round 22 v Adelaide
- Held Rory Sloane to six kicks (season low)

Season in review

After being selected with pick 8 in the 2013 National Draft, McDonald arrived at Arden Street and was immediately selected to make his debut in Round 1.

Playing like he’d belonged at the level for some time, the left-footer earned a Rising Star nomination in Round 4 and was a fixture in North’s back half.

For a first year player, McDonald’s consistency was impressive. Excluding the one game where he started as substitute (Round 7), he registered double-figure disposals in every appearance.

McDonald missed his first game when he came down with a virus shortly before Round 17’s clash against St Kilda, while he was rested for the final home and away game against Melbourne in Round 23.

It worked well, as he responded with three solid finals performances against Essendon, Geelong and Sydney. His game against the Cats was particularly impressive, tallying 20 disposals and 4 inside 50’s.

However the search for McDonald’s elusive first career goal will continue into 2015 after managing just 6 behinds in his debut season.

In the news

June 2: Room for improvement – NMFC.com.au

"To throw the [LeCras] challenge to Luke McDonald in his first year and his 10th game was a bit of a risk, but I think we all saw by the way Luke McDonald attacks the contest - going back with the flight of the ball in the last quarter was team-lifting stuff - that shows his character. So we're prepared to throw him those big jobs because we know it won’t overwhelm him.” – Brad Scott

September 18 – Grand ambitions – NMFC.com.au

“He’s (McDonald) got an ambitious nature about him and he’s not happy just playing AFL football, he wants to thrive and win and taste victory.” – David King