James McDonald comes out of retirement
James McDonald, current player mentor for the Greater Western Sydney GIANTS and 251 game AFL veteran, announced today that he will come out of retirement to take on a role as a playing / assistant coach at the Club in 2012.
McDonald originally joined the GIANTS in September 2011 as a mentor for Melbourne based players, following a long career at the Melbourne Football Club.
Melbourne drafted McDonald with pick number 51 in the 1996 rookie draft. He played 251 games for the Demons and is one of only seven Melbourne players to have played over 250 games for the club. He captained Melbourne from 2008 until his retirement at the end of 2010.
McDonald will step into his new full time role from November this year and said that he was looking forward to pulling on the boots again with the GIANTS.
“This is certainly a unique opportunity for me to work with the newest club in the AFL and also a very exciting group of young, talented players.
“There’s a lot that I can offer this group from my experience at Melbourne working with a young list. I think it’s a smart move by the GIANTS to use a player like me to provide direction both on and off the ground.
“It’s an interesting concept that we don’t actually see very much these days, but having a coach taking an on-field role really is an innovative step for the club with such a developing group. I think the biggest challenge for me will be getting the balance right."
McDonald feels that his body is in good shape and will be able cope with the physical challenges of AFL football again.
“People might question if I will be able to cope with coming back into the game but I am confident in my own body. Of course there are some unknowns, but when I finished up at Melbourne I didn’t need any surgery and I’ve maintained my fitness,” McDonald said.
“For me I’m most looking forward to exploring the coaching side after a year out of the system. I couldn’t think of a better group for me to learn from in Kevin Sheedy, Mark Williams and Graeme Allan. Their collective experience and insights will be invaluable for me for my next career path in football."
Graeme Allan, General Manager of Football Operations said that McDonald had a lot to offer the GIANTS, crediting his insight and leadership following a long career in the AFL system.
“James’ experience, particularly working with Melbourne to rebuild a young list, will be a huge boost for us as we look to develop our players,” Allan said.
“He doesn’t need to play every game next year, but certainly it is an exciting prospect for this group to have a leader out there with them who can follow through his off-field instructions and coaching out on the ground.
“It’s a unique concept, particularly in modern football, but we’re committed to looking at doing things differently here so that we can maximise the development of our players.
“James is just the type of character that you want around a young playing group as we work to establish the Club’s culture. He is an outstanding leader and character that we are excited to welcome on board.”
