Murray Macdonald had a trial shot at league football in 1959 before re appearing three years later. “I went to South Fremantle under the old permit system, where you could play up to six games at a league club without a clearance,” he said. After winning a fairest and best award at Pinjarra as a seventeen year old in 1957, Macdonald ran on to East Fremantle Oval in round one of the 1959 season on a wet and blustery day. “Con Regan gave me no easy ride,and I didn’t go too well, but didn’t need to, because John Gerovich kicked a sensational eight from centre half forward,” he recalled. Murray’s debut had created plenty of interest at Pinjarra,with team mates and supporters  keen to hear how he would go, and they all tuned in to the radio. At that time the main commentator of league football was Dick Buchanan, a colourful character and prone to some some colourful statements. “Dick came into the rooms before the game to meet me and asked about my football background so he could add something to the commentary,” said Murray. “One of the locals was a character called Ray Grantham who always saw the funny side of things, and after hearing Dick's introduction of the boy from Pinjarra, Ray said to me later: “Murray, the way this bloke Buchanan was talking about you I thought you must have run out in a blue suit.” Dropped to the reserves after three games, Macdonald decided to return to the farm.Claiming the Murray Association fairest and best trophy in 1960, he went back to Fremantle Oval in 1962, a more mature and physical footballer.  A rugged, high flying forward, Macdonald immediately made an impression, his interchanging of the key forward roles with Gerovich causing opposition headaches.  The State selectors were suitably impressed, naming him in the team to play South Australia at Subiaco in August. Macdonald played every game that season, as well as a losing semi final against West Perth.Selected in the State squad once again in 1963, Macdonald missed the cut for the game against Tasmania, informed by a selector that: “we said no to you today,” who later informed him: “we were wrong.”Injury struck in 1964, when a broken bone in a hand caused him to miss the last part of the year.   The defection of star defender Tom Grljusich to South Australia the following season forced Murray Macdonald into the backline, where he showed his versatility by reveling in the new position, and regained his State spot in 1967, this time in defence, alongside Brian France and Lorne Cook. It was in 1967 that a cartilage operation forced him out of a losing finals campaign, and, ultimately, into retirement. Newly married and with employment problems, Macdonald retired before the beginning of the 1968 season, but an approach from South Fremantle’s Ray Richards persuaded him to play a few reserves games. A transfer to Boyup Brook in his new job ended any comeback plans, but opened up a coaching career that was unfortunately short lived. “I took up the reigns at Boyup Brook in 1969, and the club went from the bottom of the list to the finals,” he said. “In the last game of the qualifying rounds I received a heavy knock in the head after taking a mark, breaking my nose. When the bleeding wouldn’t stop they rushed me to Royal Perth Hospital in a pretty critical condition to have a blood transfusion. An artery had been severed and I was lucky to survive.”“That made me think about things a bit, and I gave the game away.”Murray decided to tackle a non contact sport, and joined Melville Bowling Club, becoming  a member of their first division red team. He subsequently moved to Mandurah, where he found a niche as  skipper in first division for Dudley Park.  He is also a competent golfer.    The multi talented Macdonald was also an accomplished cricketer, representing Midland Guildford in A Grade Pennants before concentrating on football. At Pinjarra he was selected in the local club’s Team of the Century.  After ending his football career he played Suburban Turf with Nedlands and later Kardinya. Son Brendan, standing six foot nine, excelled at basketball, making over two hundred appearances in the State Basketball League, before spending two seasons in America playing college basketball.  He played football at South Fremantle, but, not wanting comparisons made between he and Murray, went to Subiaco, where he played ten league games, later playing in premiership sides with Kalgoorlie club Mines Rovers and Dowerin.  Murray is a foundation member of Fremantle Football Club, and is a regular at home games. West Perth’s Brian France was his toughest opponent, and he regards John Todd as the best player he’d seen.  Murray also had a compliment for an umpire. “Ray Scott’s patience was matched by his humour. I was feeling nauseous one day, and things got worse just as Ray was about to bounce the ball. I spewed forth. Scotty looked quickly at me, went through the motions of bouncing again, but just before releasing the leather, glanced at me and said: “OK now, Murray?”Murray Macdonald was a shining light in an ordinary period for South Fremantle. Always high up in A W Walker Medal voting, he was a consistent performer for six seasons, and is well regarded at the port club.