After playing just a quarter of football in 2021 ahead of Round 14’s clash with Brisbane, Luke McDonald made his long awaited, and successful, return to North Melbourne’s senior side over the weekend.

While the tight loss prevented any chance of a fairytale comeback from the pec injury suffered in Round 4 against Adelaide, the fact McDonald made it through the clash unscathed is significant. 

When he was named in the side, many expected McDonald to return to the defensive role in which he’s thrived since being drafted, the role in which he won the Syd Barker Medal.

It was to some surprise then when he spent most of the game on the wing, where he was busy with 17 disposals and showed his defensive nous with 3 intercepts.

One man who welcomed the return of McDonald was David Noble, who says he’d been looking forward to trialling the vice-captain further up the ground.

“I’ve been keen since I landed to have a look at Luke through the wing … he got through well,” Noble said.

“We think if we can create some versatility with the wings and the backs … that lends itself to giving us much more versatility through our game.”

Not just a leader on the field, McDonald is a popular figure within the walls at Arden Street, indicated no more clearly than by his inclusion in the leadership group this season.

Sharing the title of co-vice-captain with McDonald, there are few around the club that are more aware of the influence he can have on the side than Jy Simpkin.

Simpkin says the difference McDonald brought to the side against Brisbane was palpable.

“[It’s] massive, his role and leadership in the team,” Simpkin said.

“Everyone grows and stands a little bit taller when he’s out there with us.

“It was awesome to have Lukey back.”