Connor Macdonald

Connor Macdonald (born 13 January 2003) is a professional Australian rules footballer with the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early career

Macdonald attended Haileybury College, where the school's football coach, Hall of Famer Matthew Lloyd oversaw his football development. He was the first in his family to attend a private school. He also played with the Dandenong Stingrays in the State under 18 competition where, in a Covid interrupted season he managed to average just under 30 disposals in his four games in 2021. In 2021 he also played Victoria Country at the national under 18 championships. He previously attended Rowville Sports Academy under the guidance of Essendon premiership player Darren Bewick.

He played his junior football for Narre South Lions and Doveton Doves in the South East Juniors.

AFL career

In the 2021 AFL draft, used their third pick, number 26, to draft Macdonald. Macdonald debuted for Hawthorn alongside Josh Ward in the opening round of the 2022 AFL season against at the MCG.

Macdonald managed to play the first nine games of the season before being rested under the club policy of resting young players to help freshen them up for the long season.

In 2024 C-Mac lifted in his intensity and vastly improved on previous seasons. Part of the 2024 HOK ball "Rat Pack", Macdonald helped to propel the Hawks to the clubs first finals appearance since 2018, where they would then face the Western Bulldogs. Against the bulldogs, Macdonald would record 23 disposals and kick 2 goals in the 99–62 victory for the Hawks, leading them to play Port Adelaide, which they would lose 72-75, ending their 2024 season.

In December 2025, he was awarded the number 9 jersey after 90 games in the afl. This was previously Changkuoth Jiath's number before he was traded to the Melbourne Football Club.

Statistics Updated to the end of round 22, 2026.

111 !! 86 !! 73 !! 1094 !! 779 !! 1873 !! 477 !! 301 !! 0.8 !! 0.7 !! 9.9 !! 7.0 !! 16.9 !! 4.3 !! 2.7 !! 1

Honours and achievements Team McClelland Trophy : 2024