‘He makes us all walk taller’: McDonald happy to be Curnow’s support act

When Logan McDonald arrived at the Sydney Swans from Perth six years ago he was cautiously optimistic he could one day be the heir apparent to the club’s iconic full forward Lance Franklin.

Before Friday’s preliminary final against Fremantle at a sold-out SCG, McDonald has embraced being the support act to another talented full forward, Charlie Curnow.

“I keep trying to tell everyone how good Charlie is – all the attention goes to him,” McDonald said.

“We’re obviously going to be a better team, and I’m going to be a better player standing alongside him – he makes us all walk taller. I’ve run out of words to describe him; he’s been awesome for me and the club.”

After Franklin’s retirement in 2023, McDonald experienced the frustrations of injury and the challenge of delivering on big expectations. The arrival of Curnow has helped change not only the fortunes of the Swans, but also McDonald’s career.

“I think I’m very fortunate to play with two of the best forwards ever [Curnow and Franklin],” McDonald said. “Obviously, when I came in very young, I was in absolute awe [of Franklin] and I just looked up to him.

“His training standards were as good as I’ve ever seen. He trained so hard and even though his body probably didn’t allow him to at times, he didn’t let a moment go to waste. I was very lucky to sit back my first couple of years and watch him go about it.”

While Franklin’s mentoring helped the fellow WA forward settle in at the Swans, Curnow’s ability to embrace pressure has helped McDonald thrive in the forward line.

McDonald has kicked 48 goals this season, including a career-high six against Brisbane in the qualifying final.

Curnow’s ability to deliver for the Swans has been rewarded with a third Coleman Medal as the AFL’s leading goalkicker, but McDonald has valued his time with teammates off the field equally in terms of helping his fellow forwards improve.

“I’m so grateful that the club got him and he’s such a good person,” McDonald said.

“We’ve obviously seen what he can do on the field, but the way he’s helped my development and tried to put me in positions to succeed, I think it’s helped bring the best out of me. I’m so happy that he’s had the year that he’s had because he deserves every bit of it.”

McDonald missed last season due to an ankle injury sustained in the Swans’ 2024 preliminary final victory over Port Adelaide. In October, the Swans flew over American reconditioning specialist Bill Knowles, who has worked with Tiger Woods and former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning, to work with McDonald and other injured players.

“Last year was obviously tough – there were a lot of unknowns and not a lot of answers,” McDonald said.

“The club were very supportive of me and they got some good people around me to help me get through that.

“I haven’t really had time to reflect, but maybe at the end of the year, I will sit back and be pretty proud of where I’ve come from.”

Swans coach Dean Cox must decide whether to retain forward Hayden McLean, who kicked three goals in the qualifying final victory over Brisbane, or opt for Joel Amartey, who has recovered from a partial Achilles tendon tear.

McDonald watched Fremantle’s 32-point qualifying final loss to Hawthorn, but remains cautious.

“That was probably more of a blip in the radar [for Fremantle]. They haven’t had many performances like that for the year, so they’ve been the clear best team,” McDonald said.

“They’re star-studded all across the ground, so we’re under no illusions that they’re just going to roll over here and give [hand] it to us. We’ve got to be at our best if we’re any chance.”