Luke McDonald has never been to Wagga, but he has a couple of reasons to look forward to Saturday’s NAB Challenge match against Collingwood in Wagga.
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Injury has interrupted his previous pre-seasons and, with his form tailing off in his second season of AFL last year, the defender is itching to stake a claim for a regular spot in a competitive Kangaroos outfit.
“I just had to get a lot fitter and stronger and get rid of the niggles and that’s what I’ve done this pre-season,” McDonald said.
“I just want to get a bit of continuity going into the year. All of the boys will be doing their best to put their names in the frame for round one – there’s a lot of spots up for grabs – and I’m one of them.”
Plus the 21-year old knows this is Wayne Carey country.
“I went for North Melbourne as a kid, so I know there’s a few greats that come from up there so looking forward to getting up there and honouring the great man.”
More important than the past is the club’s focus on a successful future. McDonald says the fact they’ve bowed out on the second last weekend of the season for the last two years still hurts and will drive their ambition in 2016.
“No-one plays footy to get to preliminary finals. Everyone wants to play in that premiership. We’ve taken a lot of confidence but we’ve got to take our game plan and our play to the next level.”
After a big win over St Kilda in round one, McDonald said the Roos expect Collingwood to be a step up in intensity.
Magpies midfielder Taylor Adams is promising that.
“We’ve missed (finals) two years now. Our supporters expect better than that, and so do we,” Adams told The Daily Advertiser.
The 22-year old has played a pre-season game in Wagga before, with his old club GWS Giants.
Newly promoted to the leadership group at Collingwood, Adams says he hasn’t looked back since making the move at the end of 2013.
“One of the first things (about Collingwood) is you learn that your destiny is in your own hands,” he said.
“The footy club gives you every opportunity to be the best player you can be and it’s up to you to decide how far you can go and what you can achieve.”
Adams said the Pies fortunes will hinge on consistency this season and so their second game of the season is being viewed seriously.
