Oscar McDonald has said he will lean on his 86 games of AFL experience and Fremantle’s two preseason games in preparation for his Club debut on Sunday against Brisbane.
“It’s very exciting, just found out that I’ll play this weekend,” McDonald told fremantlefc.com.au.
“You never really know until it’s official but to find out in the team meeting with all the players and staff there, it’s fantastic, and it makes it all worth the effort.
“Just to have those sort of practice matches and intraclubs playing at AFL level does sort of help step back into a round one match.
“In saying that, I played state league last year, but it is a big step up.”
McDonald played 20 games for Williamstown last year and was named at full back in the VFL Team of the Year after averaging 16.8 disposals and 8.1 marks per game.
The 27-year-old said the transition to the west to join Fremantle had been seamless.
“It’s a completely different lifestyle but one that we’ve loved,” McDonald said.
“I moved over here with my partner, and you know she’s acclimatised really well, and we’ve loved it here.
“It’s a bit different I suppose in terms of footy landscape here. In Melbourne it’s a little bit more diluted with the 10 teams, but with the two teams here (in WA) there is a bit more scrutiny, but you just control what you can control and move on.
“(Getting another go) makes it all feel worthwhile. I’ve put a lot of effort in since being delisted from my previous Club, to go back to state footy and try and find my way back into AFL."
McDonald will line up for Fremantle at half back on Sunday for the Clubs opening game of the 2024 season at Optus Stadium.
