Australian Football

Alan McDonald had played for Meeniyan (1934-6) and Leongatha (1937-8) prior to joining Richmond. A wingman and occasional follower, he played 49 VFL games for the Tigers and scored eight goals from 1939 to 1941 and in 1943. In the 1940 grand final loss to Melbourne he lined up on a wing and was a widespread choice as Richmond’s best. Army service kept him out of football in 1944, and when he resumed it was with Camberwell in the VFA. His two season stint with the Tricolours saw him play 16 matches and kick 10 goals. He later played almost 200 games for South Bendigo before returning to Richmond as senior coach in 1957. He spent four seasons at the helm, overseeing steadily declining fortunes for seventh, 10th, 11th and 12th place finishes.

Author - John Devaney