While no player wants to be dropped to the VFL, Luke McDonald can understand his omission.

The courageous defender says he’s struggled to find touch following a hamstring injury earlier in the year, and is desperate to get back to his best.

Playing for Werribee on Saturday, McDonald’s response was impressive. He finished with 25 disposals, including 15 in the second half.

“I just wanted to get around the boys as much as possible and be really positive and help as much as I could to win the game. I really enjoyed it,” he told NMFC.com.au.

“Going into the game I was really focusing on firstly defending … getting my intensity in my defending back, which I thought I was really good at last year, but had dropped off a bit this year.

“My second focus was using the ball well and I think it’s the best I’ve used the ball pretty much since I got drafted.”

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Senior Development Coach Gavin Brown labelled the youngster’s game “terrific”, with the message from the coaches clearly taken on board.

“(It was) just go back and play footy, go back to your instincts and be a good one-on-one defender, which I thought as the game went on I did,” McDonald said.

“I felt really comfortable and have taken a lot of confidence out of the game.”

McDonald admits his start to his second season has been far from ideal.

“I think I was going pretty well until I hurt my hamstring in round three, and then ever since I got back I’ve just haven’t found that same touch,” he said.

“Especially when you’re not winning - you just want to bring something to the team and when you’re not doing it, it’s not a very good feeling.”

But the 2013 draftee knows exactly what he needs to do to win back his spot.

“It starts with my defence. If my defence is up my offence usually comes, and I think that’s what happened today,” McDonald added.

“If I have another couple of weeks at VFL level that’s fine, I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and when I get my chance I want to be ready.

“I want to never lose my spot again.”