Every young fan dreams of playing for the football club they support, of evolving from imitating club legends in the backyard to writing their name in the club’s history books and treading the path of the legends that have gone before.
A father son draft pick and a lifelong North Melbourne fan, Luke McDonald represents all North fans aspiring to reach the pinnacle of the game wearing the royal blue and white.
The reigning best and fairest winner and current guardian of the famous number 11, McDonald has instilled himself as an integral part of the football club not just for the present, but for years to come, and is a true embodiment of the Shinboner spirit.
He says while every player on North’s list is living out the dream of playing AFL football, he’s thankful he gets to do it for the club he’s supported his whole life.
“All I ever wanted to do as a kid was follow in my dad’s footsteps and play for North Melbourne Footy Club. To be able to do that is a dream come true,” McDonald said on the recent Member Q&A, presented by AIA Vitality.
“I feel like I’ve ridden the whole wave as a North Melbourne supporter to now being at the club. I’m very lucky to have had the experiences I’ve had.
“Hopefully I pass the passion I have for the club onto some of the younger lads, and hopefully that can build a really strong connection between not just the players, but also the fans.”
Luke’s father Donald played 155 games for North across the 1980’s and 90’s, and finished as the club’s leading goal-kicker in the 1984 season - just his third year at senior level.
While Donald played as a key forward or ruck for much of his career, Luke has made his name at the other end of the ground, acting as a classy defender turned wingman under David Noble.
He says his special relationship with the club means he has different goals to much of the playing list.
“Other than winning a premiership the next thing I want to tick off it getting to 156 games, because dad got to 155,” he joked.
“If I can get to 156 games maybe when I go over the mum and dad’s house I might be able to sit at the head of the table.
“One of my major achievements was getting to 100 games, because now I’ve got my name on the locker.
“All I ever wanted to do was play for North Melbourne … [and] I could always see that path because of the father son rule.”
To hear McDonald discuss North’s up and coming young players, the evolution of his beard and how he recovered from his pec injury, tune into the latest Member Q&A.
