McDonald on the energy at training

I definitely do think there is a bit of a different feeling when you come into Round 1 week.

The vibes were definitely high and the girls were up and about, I think it is just the excitement of knowing we have put 12 or 13 weeks of really hard work.

Now you are at that pointy end where you get to show off what you have been working on.

Everyone is really excited. 

McDonald on the importance of two strong practice games

I think if we look at last year, we probably didn't have practice matches as strong as we would have liked to.

So this year playing two really strong games, four consistent quarters across them I think we ride off the excitement around that.

We know that we can go out there and play the way that we want to play.

We have been working really hard for the last few months, now it is time for us to show it out on the big stage. 

McDonald on the challenge against the reigning premiers

Our last five games or so were probably within one or two goals, so we have always been able to challenge them because they have been the benchmark of the competition for a number of years.

Last year they won the premiership, so we know that they will be a really strong team once again.

For us, last year we drew with them so we got some points but we would love to come away with the win, to really prove to ourselves and assert ourselves to the rest of the competition. 

McDonald on returning from injury

It was just so exciting to be back out there with our midfield mix, and our first game with Piper [Dunlop] as well.

We work so hard for nine months of the year to get to play footy for three months, so any time you can get out there you just go out there and have a lot of fun.

When you are playing with the likes of Nina [Morrison], 'Pres' [Georgie Prespakis] and 'Crock' [Julia Crockett-Grills], it is hard not to enjoy it.

We just go out there and attack the contest, and have a bit of fun while we are at it. 

McDonald on the improved standards at training

I think this year what I really noticed when I did come back from the injury, was just that the training standards and the contest at training had gone up a notch.

I think that was really clear this pre-season, from the first centre bounce of the St Kilda practice match you could notice it. We all had seen it because we had done it at training, but it was really evident there.

Everyone as a group has tried to really put an emphasis on the contest, I think the other thing is consistency.

We know we can play good footy, we played it in patches last year but if we don't do it consistently, it means we miss out on Finals.