Connor Macdonald
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer (born 2003)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Connor Macdonald
| nickname = Croc
| image = Connor_Macdonald.png
| caption = Macdonald in 2022
| fullname = Connor MacDonald
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|01|13|df=yes}}
| birth_place =
| originalteam = Dandenong Stingrays/Haileybury
| draftpick = No. 26, 2021 national draft
| debutdate = Round 1, 2022
| debutteam = {{AFL Haw}}
| debutopponent = {{AFL NM}}
| debutstadium = MCG
| height = 185 cm
| weight = 83 kg
| position = Half Forward/Midfielder
| currentclub = {{AFL Haw}}
| guernsey = 31
| years1 = 2022–
| club1 = {{AFL Haw}}
| games_goals1 = 78 (60)
| statsend = round 14, 2025
| careerhighlights =
}}
Connor Macdonald (born 13 January 2003) is a professional Australian rules footballer with the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Early career
Macdonald attended Haileybury College, where the school's football coach, Hall of Famer Matthew Lloyd oversaw his football development. He was the first in his family to attend a private school.{{Cite web |title=AFL 2023: Connor Macdonald reveals recipe for success at Hawthorn Hawks |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/work-hard-and-get-the-rewards-winning-the-best-feeling-for-humble-hawk-20230404-p5cy0n.html |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=amp.theage.com.au}} He also played with the Dandenong Stingrays in the State under 18 competition where, in a Covid interrupted season he managed to average just under 30 disposals in his four games in 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/11/27/why-draftee-and-afl-great-were-shocked-when-hawks-swooped/ | title=Why draftee and AFL great were shocked when Hawks swooped }} In 2021 he also played Victoria Country at the national under 18 championships. He previously attended Rowville Sports Academy under the guidance of Essendon premiership player Darren Bewick.{{Cite web |title=Rowville Secondary College - Department for Education |url=https://www.rowvillesc.vic.edu.au/rowville-sports-academy/afl/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Rowville Secondary College |language=en-AU}}
He played his junior football for [https://www.dovetonfnc.com.au/ Doveton Doves] in the [https://www.aflsoutheast.com.au/ South East Juniors].
AFL career
In the 2021 AFL draft, {{AFL Haw}} used their third pick, number 26, to draft Macdonald. Macdonald debuted for Hawthorn alongside Josh Ward in the opening round of the 2022 AFL season against {{AFL NM}} at the MCG.
Macdonald managed to play the first nine games of the season before being rested under the club policy of resting young players to help freshen them up for the long season.
In 2024 C-Mac lifted in his intensity and vastly improved on previous seasons. Part of the 2024 HOK ball "Rat Pack", Macdonald helped to propel the Hawks to the clubs first finals appearance since 2018,{{Cite web |date=2024-08-24 |title=AFL R24 match report: Hawks secure finals with big win over Roos |url=https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/1636664/afl-r24-match-report-hawthorn-v-north-melbourne |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=nmfc.com.au |language=en}} where they would then face the Western Bulldogs. Against the bulldogs, Macdonald would record 23 disposals and kick 2 goals in the 99–62 victory for the Hawks,{{Cite web |date=2024-09-06 |title=AFL - News, Fixtures, Scores & Results |url=https://www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/6915#match-report |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=afl.com.au |language=en}} leading them to play Port Adelaide, which they would lose 72-75,{{Cite web |date=2024-09-13 |title=AFL - News, Fixtures, Scores & Results |url=https://www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/6942 |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=afl.com.au |language=en}} ending their 2024 season.
Statistics
Updated to the end of round 14, 2025.{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/C/Connor_MacDonald.html|title=Connor MacDonald Stats|work=AFL Tables|accessdate=27 May 2022}}
{{Australian rules football statistics legend}}
{{AFL player statistics start with votes}}
|-
| 2022 || {{AFL Haw}} || 31
| 20 || 9 || 9 || 160 || 103 || 263 || 67 || 35 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 8.0 || 5.2 || 13.2 || 3.4 || 1.8 || 0
|-
| 2023 || {{AFL Haw}} || 31
| 21 || 12 || 15 || 209 || 154 || 363 || 84 || 54 || 0.6 || 0.7 || 10.0 || 7.3 || 17.3 || 4.0 || 2.6 || 0
|-
| 2024 || {{AFL Haw}} || 31
| 25 || 28 || 19 || 249 || 187 || 436 || 132 || 69 || 1.1 || 0.8 || 10.0 || 7.5 || 17.4 || 5.3 || 2.8 || 1
|-
| 2025 || {{AFL Haw}} || 31
| 12 || 11 || 10 || 104 || 64 || 168 || 50 || 37 || 0.9 || 0.8 || 8.7 || 5.3 || 14.0 || 4.2 || 3.1 ||
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 78 !! 60 !! 53 !! 722 !! 508 !! 1230 !! 333 !! 195 !! 0.8 || 0.7 || 9.3 || 6.5 || 15.8 || 4.3 || 2.5 || 1
|}
Honours and achievements
Team
- McClelland Trophy ({{AFL Haw}}): 2024
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{AFL Tables|ref=C/Connor_Macdonald.html}}
{{Hawthorn player squad}}
{{2021 AFL national draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macdonald, Connor}}
Category:Hawthorn Football Club players
Category:Box Hill Football Club players
Category:Dandenong Stingrays players
Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
Category:People educated at Haileybury (Melbourne)
Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen
{{AFL-bio-2000s-stub}}