Geelong cricket veteran Josh McDonald says the club saved his life

A much-loved Geelong cricketer has looked back on the highs, the lows, the fastest spell he ever faced from a future Test captain and the day he lost four front teeth while keeping.

Geelong veteran Josh McDonald has retired after 284 Premier games. Picture: Mitch Bear

It’s little wonder Geelong stalwart Josh McDonald was emotional when he walked off Kardinia Park for the final time on Saturday: he believes the club saved his life.

McDonald would cross to the Cats for the 2012-13 season, after three campaigns commuting from native Shepparton for matches with Richmond Cricket Club.

With his father living in Geelong, McDonald had moved to Kardinia Park as much for a fresh start life as a strategic cricketing decision.

“Life was a bit pear shaped in terms of back home in ‘Shep’,” McDonald said.

“So dad said come live with me.

“Geelong got wind that and recruited me, it changed my life, completely.”

Josh McDonald is embraced by a teammate after this final game for Geelong on Saturday against St Kilda. Picture: Carey Neate.

McDonald played his final game for the Cats on Saturday against St Kilda at Kardinia Park; the tailend of a feeling he had been grappling with for about 18 months.

After slowly watching some of his favourite teammates depart the scene – Brenton McDonald, Meyrick and Liam Buchanan, Dom McGlinchey and finally his best mate Hayden Butterworth 12 months ago – the former Cats captain and keeper knew it was time to step away.

The two McDonalds, McGlinchey and Butterworth were all top 10 players across batting and bowling over the past 10 seasons.

“Just sitting in the changerooms, it’s just the younger boys’ club now, it’s theirs,” he said.

“It’s time to get out of the way to be honest, in a positive way.

“Physically and ability-wise I could keep going, no doubt about it, but it’s probably just the right time to be honest with (captain) ‘Larko’ and (coach) ‘Vinesy’.

“(Eamonn) Vines is and going to be a better coach than most.”

McDonald said season 24-25 had been one of the most taxing, with the first grade unable to get access to Kardinia Park until January due to delayed wicket table works.

Josh McDonald early in his career at Geelong.

Instead, the ones would travel to games in Melbourne on a bus — while it was good for team bonding, it was also hugely taxing and made for a 14-hour commitment each Saturday.

“It’s a big commitment playing in Geelong ... if I was living in Melbourne and playing at a Melbourne club, it would be a lot easier,” he said.

“This year was tough, not just for me but for everyone,

“Every week was in Melbourne, so it was a hard slog, it was the hardest slog I’ve had playing at this level in 15 years.

“They’re just big, big days. Taxing, very taxing.”

Geelong wouldn’t get access to its home deck until after Christmas.

And there were mixed emotions when McDonald walked off the ground for the final time as a Cats player against the Saints in the final round.

“That’s my home, so that’s probably why I was a bit emotional on Saturday,” he said.

“I feel like I’m moving out of home.

“I love that place, it’s actually a tough move not playing there.”

The connection with the Cats will never be broken, though.

“I’m only a phone call away, I’ll help no matter what,” he said.

“I don’t have any aspirations to coach at this stage.”

McDonald keeps against Footscray-Edgewater in November, 2014. Picture: Kris Reichl

McDonald’s decision to call stumps triggered a wave of tributes online on Saturday night, from Vines, Larkin to Butterworth.

They were so heartfelt, McDonald’s fiancee joked if he had actually passed away.

“It was like I was dying,” he said with a laugh.

A few of the posts made mention of McDonald losing some teeth.

It McDonald’s first season at Geelong when he was struck in the mouth keeping up to the stumps to medium pacer Jack Sheppard at Kardinia Park.

The ball had swung in, clipped the bad and shattered four of his front teeth.

McDonald would make an emergency dash to a nearby dentist by the Apco supermarket.

“He said I can’t do anything today but we’ll brace you up and give you a heap of meds,” McDonald recalled.

McDonald made 105 from 59 balls for Geelong against Melbourne University in January, 2016. Picture: Mitch Bear

“I came out and batted and about halfway through batting, it all wore off.”

Speaking of danger, McDonald said facing a teenage Pat Cummins during the under-19 national championships stuck in the memory as one of the fiercest spells he ever endured.

Twelve months prior, a retiring Butterworth told this masthead facing a fired up James Pattinson at Kardinia Park, who said he wanted to kill him, was his toughest examination.

“’Patto’ was scary enough,” McDonald said.

“I was lucky enough to play in the under-19s stuff against Pat Cummins.

“He broke my helmet ... just before he went to South Africa (to make his Test debut).

“Bowling 150s, that was quick.”

Like Cummins all those summers ago, McDonald believes Geelong young star Ollie Peake is destined for the highest level, saying his mental approach was as impressive as anything he had seen in 15 years of Premier cricket.

Josh McDonald and Eamonn Vines batting against Carlton in December, 2020. Picture: David Crosling

Peake is due to make his state debut against South Australia on Thursday.

“He’s just a really well grounded young man to be honest,” he said.

“I’ve seen a lot of people hit the ball the way he hits it, but it’s what’s between his ears (which impresses the most)

“(His father) Clinton’s knowledge of the game is second to none, and he’s a sponge.

“He’ll ask even me for advice, he’s going to be 10 times a better player than me, that will play cricket for Australia, no doubt in my mind.

“I’ve seen a lot of people come through but nothing like that, game knowledge, game sense, the ability to control situations is well beyond his years.”

McDonald was named Geelong’s captain in October, 2021. Picture: David Smith

McDonald said current Geelong bowling coach Justin Yaensch – who took McDonald under his wing when he arrived 15 years ago at Richmond CC – and Liam Buchanan had a big influence on his Premier career.

“The best mentor I’ve had on and off the field, ever,” he said of Buchanan, who made great decisions both on and off the field.

“He’s an amazing human being.

“He’d hit you hard between the ears if you needed it but he’d also give you a cuddle if you needed it as well.”

Underlying McDonald’s special connection with the Cats, Butterworth, Buchanan, Brenton McDonald and Dom Glinchey are groomsmen while Jaensch is the MC at his wedding next month.

Originally published as Geelong cricket veteran Josh McDonald says the club saved his life