By Marc McGowan
Hawthorn have rewarded emerging forward Connor Macdonald with a fresh two-year contract after an impressive start to his AFL career.
The 20-year-old has quickly become part of coach Sam Mitchell’s present and future plans, playing 23 of a possible 25 matches since arriving at the Hawks as the No.26 pick in the 2021 draft.
As such, Macdonald was not oblivious to the Alastair Clarkson fuss in the lead-up to the Hawks’ victory over North Melbourne last weekend, but had no extra emotion, given Mitchell’s been his only coach at the top level.
Connor Macdonald, centre, celebrates a goal in round three. Credit: Dylan Burns, Getty
“I was just really happy for us to get a win. Obviously, it was a tough two weeks [to start the season], and it’s never great losing,” Macdonald told The Age.
“I was saying to a few people after the game, ‘How good is this? Just soak it in.’ Winning is the best feeling.
“We’re learning together and doing a lot together, and with a new coach as well. We’re really excited to grow together.”
Macdonald is aware of the doomsday predictions in some quarters about Hawthorn, and was sad to farewell experienced midfielders Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara last year, but said he had full trust in the club’s direction.
Besides, the Dandenong Stingrays graduate is well versed in fighting for everything he gets. Macdonald’s father, Robbie, grew up in a housing commission area in Doveton, in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, while his mother, Georgia, is from nearby Hampton Park.
Connor Macdonald has signed a new deal that ties him to Hawthorn until the end of 2025.Credit: Getty Images
“I come from sort of humble beginnings, with both my parents growing up in not the best of areas, so they’ve taught me good life lessons that nothing is guaranteed, and you’ve got to work hard for everything,” Macdonald said.
“I think that’s really helped me – not only in footy, but in life, to be able to work hard and get the rewards.”
Macdonald is not only the first AFL footballer in his family but also the first to attend a private school, receiving a scholarship to attend Haileybury College in Keysborough from years 10 to 12, where Matthew Lloyd was his football coach.
Lloyd and Macdonald are still in almost-daily contact, and the young Hawk will be in Anglesea in a few weeks’ time to speak to Haileybury’s next crop of footballers.
“My parents’ goal was to give me everything that they didn’t have when they were younger, which I’ve been fortunate enough to do,” he said. “Going to a private school and getting a scholarship and good education was a big milestone in our family, which is cool.”
Macdonald shot to prominence playing for Doveton Football Club, where his father – a former amateur boxer and merchant seaman who travelled the world on ships – is a life member. He even received the best-on-ground medal in his senior debut for Doveton as a 16-year-old in 2019.
“I hear a lot of stories of him being around the Doveton footy club,” Macdonald said.
“Dad also spent a lot of time with Indigenous families who lived a couple of doors down in his street, so he’s very well-connected there, and I think that translates to me now as well.
“I’m really eager to learn a lot about Indigenous [culture], and I’m close with the likes of Tyler Brockman, Karl Amon and ‘Jarsy’ [Jarman Impey] as well.”
Connor Macdonald (second from right) is part of a new Hawks generation.Credit: Getty Images
Hawthorn captain James Sicily and fellow star Dylan Moore were glowing in their praise of Macdonald in the pre-season, and he sits among the likes of Jai Newcombe, Will Day, Cam Mackenzie and Josh Ward as the team’s brightest prospects.
That crop is realistic about what can be achieved in the short-term but hellbent on lifting the Hawks back to prominence.
“We have the likes of Andy Collins as our development coach, and he’s one of Hawthorn’s greats and experienced a lot of that success as a player,” Macdonald said.
“It’s been great to have him as a development coach for the younger boys, to show us the way and tell us stories of winning silverware back in those years.
“That really excites us and motivates us to get to that stage [ourselves], and you even look at the recent success of the three-peat [from 2013-15]. We want to propel ourselves into becoming that, too.”