Compare the pair: How potential number one picks Riley Thilthorpe, Logan McDonald stack up

Logan McDonald or Riley Thilthorpe? We’ve compiled all the stats and spoken to their junior coaches, now it’s your turn to decide. Vote now.

Logan McDonald (centre) is in the mix to be taken with pick one by Adelaide. Picture: Paul Kane/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

They are the twin towers in the mix to make history at Adelaide.

West Adelaide’s Riley Thilthorpe or Perth’s Logan McDonald are considered likely to become the Crows’ highest ever selection when they pick first overall at the December 9 draft.

Adelaide, which has never chosen earlier than sixth, may bid on Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy prospect Jamarra Ugle-Hagan or pull a surprise by taking Murray Bushrangers’ Elijah Hollands at the top of the order.

But many observers expect it will be one of the two talls, forward/ruckman Thilthorpe or spearhead McDonald.

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The pair have some similarities, such as coming off nine-game seasons, sharing a manager, Ben Williams, and the potential to address a glaring need for the Crows in attack.

A closer look at their 2020 seasons also shows that while there are obvious contrasts, such as McDonald kicking 21 goals to Thilthorpe’s five and 201cm Thilthorpe, who is five centimetres taller, playing in the ruck, some of their key statistics are alike.

Logan McDonald (centre) during the Western Australia AFL Draft All Stars game. Picture: Paul Kane/AFL Photos/via Getty

Both averaged 11 disposals, seven contested possessions and four marks.

McDonald took more contested and forward 50 marks, and had more score involvements, but Thilthorpe was ahead in tackles, clearances and disposal efficiency.

Although they both featured in nine matches, McDonald played for a Perth side that ended a 23-year WAFL finals drought and Thilthorpe was in a Bloods outfit that finished bottom with just two wins from 14 games.

McDonald was a key factor in the Demons’ September charge, ranking second in the league’s goalkicking after the minor round and placing runner-up in Perth’s best and fairest.

Thilthorpe missed the last five matches due to groin issues.

Riley Thilthorpe (left) competes for the footy during the match against South Adelaide and West Adelaide. Picture: Mark Brake

McDonald only made his senior debut this year after playing colts the previous season, while Thilthorpe kicked eight goals in six matches in 2019.

So who should Adelaide choose?

The football managers at their respective state league clubs made strong cases to The Advertiser, saying their charge would be a great fit for the Crows, coming off their first wooden spoon.

West Adelaide’s Wayne Siekman said Thilthorpe’s numbers had to be taken into context.

“We were the bottom side and he was getting the best defender every week, as an 18-year-old kid, but it was the best preparation for him,” Siekman said.

“The ball service from us wasn’t good enough but he very rarely got outmarked and when the ball hits the ground he’s ferocious.

Tale of the Tape
Logan McDonald	Player	Riley Thilthorpe
Perth (WA)	Team	West Adelaide (SA)
18	Age	18
196cm	Height	201cm
86kg	Weight	100kg
2020 Averages
9	Games	9
11.6	Disposals	11.9
54.70%	Kicking Efficiency	67.90%
60.20%	Disposal Efficiency	69.20%
7.1	Contested Possessions	7.1
4.8	Uncontested Possessions	4.4
4	Marks	4.1
2.2	Contested Marks	1.6
2.9	Forward 50 Marks	1.1
1.6	Forward 50 Ground-Ball Gets	1.3
2.3	Goals	0.6
0.8	Score Assists	0.4
5.4	Score Involvements	3.4
0.2	Forward 50 Tackles	0.6
1.2	Tackles	2.9
0.2	Clearances	1.1

“He’s got commitment, determination and character.”

Siekman said Thilthorpe’s kicking and running were strengths.

“He’s one of the best runners in our club and in the SA hub this year,” he said.

“He wants to be another Brodie Grundy, but he also wants to be a Max or Ben King, or Nick Riewoldt.

“I don’t know how many 200cm blokes can kick with left or right comfortably, not just use his left when he’s in trouble.

“He’s always at training early and always practising his kicking.”

Riley Thilthorpe at his school, Adelaide High. Picture: AAP/ Keryn Stevens

Siekman said Thilthorpe took feedback well and it was due to working too hard and overloading that his injuries had to be managed late in the season.

“He’s all fine now and he’s ready to go,” he said.

Perth’s Trevor Williams called McDonald a ready-made replacement for Taylor Walker when he retired.

“He can work up the ground, he can work back and his biggest asset is he was able to work over defenders, and they couldn’t go with him in the finish,” Williams said.

“It wasn’t just him getting on the end of it, he set up so many as well.

“His contested marking was amazing … and his groundwork for a kid his size is very, very good.

“His weakness at the moment is probably his body size – he needs to get stronger, but in an AFL environment, that’s what they do.”

Of McDonald’s lower tackle numbers, Williams said: “he was never shy in not tackling, it was whether the opportunity presented itself and his contested pressure was never questioned.”

Williams also backed up McDonald’s assertion that he would stay loyal if he was drafted to the Crows.

“All Adelaide supporters should be pretty happy if it was Logan,” he said.

“They’d get a great person and potentially a very good footballer.”

Originally published as Compare the pair: How potential number one picks Riley Thilthorpe, Logan McDonald stack up