In many ways, James McDonald represents where it all started to go wrong for AFL club Melbourne in a list-management sense.
McDonald was captain of the Demons and comfortably in their best 22 in 2010 when he was bluntly told his time with the side was over.
It was a bold decision, made to look all the bolder when McDonald, then aged 35, came out of retirement to play 13 serviceable games for Greater Western Sydney last year.
In the same time, Melbourne have failed to give long-suffering fans any genuine harbingers of hope – and parted ways with a No.1 draft pick, coach, and chief executive.
“No doubt (you feel for the them). You want to see them do well, because obviously I have a bit of a soft spot for them. I’m sure they’ll work it out,” McDonald told AAP.
“Sides go through tough times, I’ve been there.
“Hopefully they can turn it around, just hopefully not this week.”
On Sunday, GWS assistant coach McDonald will be masterminding the downfall of the club he played 251 games for and won two best and fairest awards with.
Last year, when McDonald took to the MCG and was tackling former teammates into the turf, it may have felt a little different.
Now, with the former hard-running midfielder spending his time churning through footage, statistics and meetings – it’s hard to get caught up in any drama.
“It’s been three years since I was involved at Melbourne, and for me now I’m a coach,” he said.
“When you’re playing it’s a little different, but you get a lot of coaches and assistant coaches who come from different clubs.
“I might get to watch glimpses of them here and there, but to be honest I don’t watch them any more than any other side these days.”
While McDonald was given a relative cordial reception by the red-and-blue faithful last year, Tom Scully was routinely booed every time he came near the ball against his old side.
It’s unlikely the Demons’ fans will forget the GWS vice-captain’s multi-million dollar shift north any time soon.
“I think it’s like (that) when any player leaves any club. Brendon Goddard is going against his old side St Kilda and I’m sure he’ll cop a bit of stick,” McDonald said.
“You want to see supporters be passionate … that’s one of those things you probably expect really.”
