AFL

Winding journey: stars align for fringe Docker McDonald

By Justin Chadwick

Sep 22, 2026

Oscar McDonald is on the verge of playing in an AFL grand final with Fremantle. -AAP Image

Oscar McDonald was meant to be the heartbreak story of the 2026 Flagmantle push, but the three-club journeyman is now just one win away from becoming a premiership immortal.

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All eyes will be on Brennan Cox on Wednesday when Fremantle complete an open training session in front of their adoring fans at Cockburn Arc.

Cox hasn't featured since injuring his calf in the final-round loss to Carlton.

The 28-year-old was pulled from Sunday's WAFL grand final after McDonald copped a heavy knock during Fremantle's famous preliminary final comeback win over Sydney two days earlier.

But with McDonald having recovered well, Cox is almost certain to be cast into the role of emergency for Saturday's grand final against Brisbane at the MCG.

It's a bitter blow for Cox, who is rated as one of Fremantle's best key defenders but hasn't been able to get a solid run of football for the best part of the past two months - first due to knee soreness and then his untimely calf tear.

But Cox's misfortune has resulted in a surprise chance at glory for McDonald.

The 30-year-old was discarded by Melbourne at the end of 2020 following 81 games.

He added another five games across two injury-riddled seasons for Carlton before being delisted at the end of 2022.

Given a lifeline by Fremantle via the SSP, McDonald's AFL dream again took a turn for the worse when he suffered a serious knee injury during his Dockers debut in round one, 2024.

But he bounced back from that to become a reliable defensive back-up, and Cox's recent injury woes opened the door for McDonald to cement a spot, after spending more than half of the season in the WAFL.

"He's been playing some really dominant WAFL footy and he's come in and played some massive games for us as well," Dockers forward Josh Treacy said of McDonald on the eve of the finals.

"I love having Oscar in the team. We've got full trust in him as well."

Retiring forward Sam Switkowski said McDonald was one of a number of Dockers players who had spent most of the past two years in the WAFL despite being deserving of first-team football.

"He's so reliable," Switkowski said.

"Whenever he's come in, since he's been at the club, he's performed really well.

"It's awesome to see him get the chance."

Cox, ruckman Sean Darcy, veteran Jaeger O'Meara, defender Brandon Walker and wingman Nathan O'Driscoll are set to be among the unlucky bunch to miss out on a grand final berth barring a selection curve ball from coach Justin Longmuir.Â