By Rebecca Mills

James McDonald has had anything but a traditional football career.
 
He missed out on being drafted and took a year off football before being selected with pick 56 in the 1996 Rookie Draft and going on to play more games than any rookie listed player in AFL history.
 
On Sunday, his career will take another unique turn when McDonald lines up against the club he once captained in his new role as both a coach and player with the GIANTS.
 
It all began over three decades ago when McDonald was playing footy against his brothers on a farm near Ballarat in Victoria.
 
“I grew up with three brothers and a sister.
 
“We used to play plenty of paddock games on the farm, it was the oldest and youngest versus the middle two of us.
 
“We didn’t win too many games.”
 
McDonald played his school football at St Patricks in Ballarat, the school credited with producing a multitude of AFL talent including two hall of famers and two members of the AFL team of the Century.
 
After missing out on being drafted, McDonald who had then been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome took a break from football and headed south.
 
“The fatigue is one of the reasons that I took a year off from footy. I was burnt out.
 
“I started doing commerce at Uni, deferred then went to work at a meat works in Melbourne.
 
“I wasn’t even thinking about football to be honest, I wasn’t missing it that much. My boss at the meat works was President of the Old Xavs footy club and he got me down there.
 
“I didn’t think about playing AFL, I was just happy kicking the footy around but started playing a few good games there and that generated a bit of interest.
 
“I was picked up by Melbourne and after a year on the rookie list was promoted to the seniors. The rest, as they say, is history.”
 
The ‘history’ that McDonald modestly refers to includes 251 games as a Demon, All-Australian selection, two best and fairest awards and two years as Captain of the club.
 
“I was pretty lucky probably. I was a skinny little runt and they thought they could do something with me.
 
“I’ve got a strong emotional tie with Melbourne, I’ve basically spent half my life with them.
 
“As time goes on that connection is not as strong but I think its just human nature, so I’ve still got a lot of good mates there.
 
“You’d like to see them doing better than they are at the moment.”
 
Now, McDonald sits in orange, an Assistant Coach and Player at the newest club in the AFL competition, a role that he claims has been one of the hardest and most rewarding experiences of his life.
 
“We had our second baby and moved a week later, which was pretty full of for my wife, but our family has settled in well.
 
“It’s been really good for me; this opportunity has been invaluable. I’ve had great insight into coaching and being part of a start up club is really exciting.
 
“It’s been really challenging and it’s been hard work but that’s what I wanted.”
 
On Sunday, McDonald will return to the MCG, where he played his final game for Melbourne in 2010 alongside GIANTS teammate and former Demon, Tom Scully.
 
“I have spoken to Tom a little bit.
 
“He’s still got some good mates at Melbourne as well, he’s pretty mature and knows he’ll probably cop a bit of attention during the game from supporters and players but that’s footy.
 
“Callan Ward went through it, Phil Davis and Luke (Power), they all played against their old sides and you just get on with it.
 
“We’d love to win.”