PLAYING in the same team with younger brother Oscar has been one of the highlights of Tom McDonald’s career, when reflecting on his journey towards 100 AFL games.

McDonald, who will achieve the milestone against the Gold Coast Suns at the MCG on Sunday, said it was one of the best aspects of playing with Melbourne at the moment.

“It’s been a real exciting pathway. We live together, go out and play and do everything together – but now it’s happened and that he’s played more than 10 games this year, it almost feels normal now,” he told Melbourne TV.  

“He’s had a couple of ankle injuries this year and normally if someone’s injured, you check and see if they’re all right, and then they’re off the ground.

“I almost feel a bit sick when I see him roll his ankle and you feel a bit like how Mum would, if she was watching him get hurt, because I feel like it’s my fault that he’s hurt himself.

“When we’re out there, we’ve got a job to do and we get it done, but it’s more afterwards and before the game that the thought of it sinks in.”

Tom, who at 23 is four years older than Oscar, said he was excited by what his younger brother could bring to the side in the coming seasons.  

“Oscar’s one of the least experienced in the team – in fact the whole backline is pretty much the same with him, Hunty (Jayden Hunt), [Josh] Wagner and even Neville Jetta hasn’t played a huge amount of footy and this is my 100^th game,” he said.

“I’m not really experienced really, compared to the rest of the AFL.

“There is huge growth to come from these guys, especially Oscar, who has been chucked in the deep end. I think he’s doing as good a job as he can, in the situation, so I think the club’s really happy with the progress he’s making.”