FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
STAR country footballer Dean MacDonald etched his name into the history books at the weekend.
The Yallourn Yallourn North playing co-coach booted his 1000th career goal in Round 11 of the North Gippsland Football-Netball League against Traralgon Tyers United.
Only five goals away entering into the game, MacDonald moved 10 clear with a 15-goal performance, reaching the landmark by getting out the back of his opponent and snapping truly during the second quarter.
Affectionately known as ‘D Mac’, the Jets full forward has been led through many hoops during the course of his time in the game, with beginnings in Morwell.
Getting through to the backend of his juniors, MacDonald put forth a stellar season with Gippsland Power, which was enough to catch the eye of Richmond and be taken at Pick 51 in the 2010 AFL Draft.
He would feature on the Tigers’ list for two years, delisted at the end of the 2012 season, before returning to Coburg in 2015 once the Lions became a standalone VFL club away from Richmond.
In the meantime, MacDonald returned to his home club at Morwell, helping them to back-to-back Gippsland League premierships in 2013 and 2014, collecting close to 100 goals in those two years.
Ironically, when he became associated with YYN, it was in the colours of the side he achieved the recent milestone against.
MacDonald made the move from Coburg and Morwell, to the then Bombers for the start of the 2016 season, following the Mid Gippsland club’s rejuvenation in going from bottom to top of the ladder.
His presence was felt immediately, sending home 95 goals across his debut year for YYN, and helping the side to a second straight grand final appearance.
Two years later, MacDonald would reach the ton for the first time in his career, which came in the 2018 semi-final win over reigning premier Mirboo North.
The feat was even more impressive given the Bombers had just gained the talents of young prospect Keenan Hughes, creating a scary one-two punch in the forward line.
In the midst of that season, MacDonald managed a 15-goal haul in a home match against Boolarra.
The following year (2019) would be the year YYN finally broke through in senior ranks, winning the Mid Gippsland premiership.
MacDonald booted 75 goals in the drought-breaking season, including three on grand final day.
Returning from the haze of the pandemic and now in a new league and in new colours, MacDonald took on the captaincy and led the now Jets to a second flag in 2022.
His accolades at YYN include two club best-and-fairest awards, while he has topped the goal kicking of either league he’s been in five times at a rate of 4.5 majors per game.
It must be said, especially in MacDonald’s time with the Jets/Bombers, that the superstar has routinely displayed action on the field to be viewed as an extremely selfless teammate.
Not hyperbole, he could easily be on his way to 2000 goals if he didn’t pass off as much.
