[1] His father, Donald McDonald played 155 games for North Melbourne and was working in the club's football department until he left to avoid any conflict of interest.

He was voted 3rd in Rising Star award behind Western Bulldogs' Marcus Bontempelli and Brisbane Lions' Lewis Taylor.

McDonald also participated in North's heavy preliminary final defeat to the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium.

In February 2015, McDonald revealed that he had suffered a stress fracture to his back during a match against the Brisbane Lions in Round 15 of the previous season.

In a round 13 Friday night game however, during a chase-down run of Hawthorn's small forward Cyril Rioli, McDonald injured his hamstring sidelining him for 10 weeks.