Career : 2021 - 2022
Debut : Round 1, 2021 vs Richmond, aged 25 years.
Carlton Player No. 1219
Games : 86 (81 at Melbourne)
Goals : 3 (1 at Melbourne)
Last Game: Round 2, 2022 vs Western Bulldogs, aged 26 years, 6 days.
Guernsey: No. 39
Height : 196 cm (6'4")
Weight : 100 kg (15 stone 7 lb)
DOB : 18th March, 1996
The Carlton Football Club announced the signing of Oscar McDonald as a rookie for the 2021 AFL season after his sound efforts in the two pre-season hit outs for the Blues. McDonald put pen to paper on the final day of the pre-season supplemental selection period, completing the Blues’ playing list ahead of the upcoming campaign. The 24-year-old has impressed since arriving at Ikon Park as a train-on player in December, training predominantly with the backline. He also showcased his versatility last Thursday night when he produced 13 disposals, six marks and two goals in the Club’s AAMI Community Series game against St Kilda. McDonald will wear the Navy Blue guernsey after 81 games across six seasons for Melbourne from 2015 – 2020. Carlton Head of List Management Nick Austin said McDonald would provide valuable depth to the side’s key defensive positions. “Oscar has fit in really well with our backline group over the pre-season and we look forward to seeing him continue to strengthen those connections as the year evolves,” Austin said. “As we also saw on Thursday night, Oscar is also able to play other roles across the ground which gives us some flexibility across the board. “It is never an easy situation for a train-on player however from the moment Oscar walked into the football club late last year he has done everything possible to earn a spot on the list. He already has six years of experience at the elite level, has a great work ethic and above all is a great person who will be a welcome addition to the playing group.”
Junior career
After missing out on selection for Vic Country in the 2014 AFL Under 18 Championships, McDonald played nineteen matches for the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup, with the second half to his season raising his draft chances. His strong season was acknowledged with awards and accolades including, winning the Adam Goodes trophy for the club best and fairest, the TAC Cup coaches award, and he was named as the centre half-back in the TAC Cup team of the year. McDonald originally played with the Edenhope-Apsley FC which are part of the Horsham District FNL.
Predicted to be drafted inside the top thirty in the 2014 national draft, McDonald was drafted by Melbourne with their fifth selection and fifty-third overall. He spent the start of 2015 playing for Melbourne's VFL affiliate team, the Casey Scorpions, in the VFL Development League, he was then promoted to the senior VFL team in round three, playing there for most of 2015. He would play 81 games and kick 1 goal from 2015 to 2020 with the Melbourne FC before being delisted at the end of the season. His brother Tom also played at Melbourne whilst Oscar played there.
After two injury-plagued seasons McDonald was delisted by the Blues, he then headed to VFL team Williamstown for the 2023 season.
In November of 2023, McDonald signed with the Fremantle Dockers as a delisted free agent. He had played for the VFL team Williamstown during the 2023 season. He is the second player to play for Fremantle, Carlton and Melbourne after Troy Longmuir (brother of current Fremantle Coach, Justin Longmuir), who played 17 games for Melbourne from 1998–1999, 55 games for Fremantle between 2000 and 2004, and 11 games for Carlton from 2005–2006.