James McDonald (footballer)

Infobox afl player NEW
playername = James McDonald
fullname = James I. McDonald
image capt = James McDonald for Melbourne


birthdate = birth date and age|df=yes|1976|10|05
birthplace =
originalteam = Ballarat/Old Xaverians
draftpick =
heightweight = 180cm / 75kg
position = Midfielder
dead = alive
deathdate =
deathplace =
currentclub = AFL Mel
guernsey = 23
years = 1997-
clubs = AFL Mel
games(goals) = 217 (49)
sooyears =
sooteams =
soogames(goals) =
nationalyears = 2006
nationalteams = Australia
nationalgames(goals) = 1 (0)
coach = notcoach
coachyears =
coachclubs =
coachgames(wins) =
statsend = 2008
repstatsend = 2006
careerhighlights =

* Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal 2006, 2007
* Best Team Player 2006
* International Rules Representative 2006
* All-Australian Team 2006

James I. McDonald (born 5 October 1976) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.

Nicknamed "Junior", James is the brother of former AFL players Anthony McDonald and Alex McDonald. He is noted as a hard-working in and under midfielder. In addition to this, he is also used as a tagger.

In 1995 McDonald suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome with his VAFA side Old Xaverians.He debuted in the AFL in 1997 with the Melbourne Football Club after being promoted off the rookie list.

McDonald had one of his most consistent years in 2006, being named on the interchange bench in the All-Australian side and the only Demons player to make this list in that year. He laid a league-high and record-high 143 tackles during season 2006, [http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=stats&spg=display&records=100&statisticType=TACKLES] breaking the previous record held by Tony Liberatore (although Brett Kirk would break McDonald's record the following season), and capped off the season with a win in Melbourne's best and fairest.

Played in International Rules Series in 2006. McDonald won the Melbourne Best and Fairest in 2007 for the second time.

2008

He had his 200th game in a devastating loss to the Western Bulldogs in Round 2 of 2008. He is part of the Demons' leadership group, along with Cameron Bruce, Russell Robertson, Adem Yze and Brad Miller and was named co-captain alongside Bruce in the absence of skipper David Neitz. However, after Neitz announced his retirement, no captain has been selected yet.