NOT since 1998 has an AFL player kicked more than 100 goals during the home-and-away season. In that year, Sydney legend Tony Lockett won the Coleman Medal with a tally of 107 majors.
In 2005, St Kilda full-forward Fraser Gehrig topped the goalkicking ladder with a total of 74, while last season, Carlton's Brendan Fevola won the Coleman Medal by kicking 84.
Across country footy, it's a far different story. So far in 2007, 15 players have kicked a century of goals in Victorian Country Football League-affiliated competitions.
In the Ellinbank and District league alone, four full-forwards have reached the milestone. They include Longwarry's Ryan Donaldson, whose haul of 147 goals in only 17 games has confirmed him as the VCFL's No. 1 sharpshooter.
In the Central Murray league, Tooleybuc-Manangatang's Jarrod Arentz has topped 100 for the fourth season in a row; in the Murray league, Nathalia's Brendon Parker has also kicked his fourth consecutive ton.
Donaldson's season to remember started in brilliant fashion in round one against Ellinbank.
"They had high expectations, so I put that on myself," Donaldson said. "I kicked 14 and then everyone seemed to think I was all right."
Donaldson joined Longwarry after an indifferent two years at nearby Berwick, where he played under former Geelong goalsneak Ronnie Burns.
He joined the Crows to play with coach Grant Close. The pair have been best mates since they played together at Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsula in 2002 and '03.
Donaldson was a key forward during his junior years at Beaconsfield before he graduated to the Dandenong Stingrays' TAC Cup squad. After one pre-season with the Stingrays, during which he played full-back in a number of practice matches, he returned to local footy.
Later, he did a pre-season with VFL club Frankston but broke his leg during a camp at an army base and decided that the training required at that level was not for him.
Donaldson was recruited by Red Hill and kicked 101 goals in an ordinary team in 2002.
He started 2003 by booting 52 goals in the first eight games for Red Hill, including 15 against Somerville, before a knee injury ended his chances of another hundred.
A stint in Cairns followed before Donaldson moved back to Victoria and signed a two-year contract with Berwick, where he shared the forward 50 with goalkicking legend George Gorozidis. It was an unhappy arrangement.
Donaldson kicked 42 goals in 2005 and last year booted 74.
"I just didn't enjoy it," he said. "I just went through the motions at Berwick."
Longwarry already had a talented spearhead. Glen Browney kicked 122 goals last year as the Crows finished second, losing only one home-and-away match. But, in a big shock, they lost both their finals and Browney left for Drouin.
Meanwhile, Donaldson's contract with Berwick ended and Longwarry pounced. The 26-year-old concreter signed with the Crows as its assistant coach and knew he would have the goal square all to himself.
At 187 centimetres, Donaldson is the same height as champion Hawthorn full-forward Jason Dunstall. His 95-kilogram frame gives him strength in physical contests, while long and accurate kicking is regarded as his greatest weapon.
Such was his early-season form that Donaldson reached 50 goals in only seven games.
"If he's happy, he plays good football," Close said. "He'll kick them from 55 out on the boundary.
"Usually, I would tell my players not to kick to the full-forward if he's in the dead pocket. There are no dead pockets with Ryan."
In the four games from round eight to 11, Donaldson kicked an amazing 57 goals. The run included a haul of 16 against battling Nilma Darnum, after which he was named second-best on ground, and 17 against bottom side Warragul Industrials.
Despite being matched up by two or even three opponents most weeks, he passed 100 goals early in his 11th outing.
A fortnight later, Donaldson toppled the long-standing EDFL goalkicking record (previously 124 goals) by shredding the Ellinbank defence.
"I was keen for Ryan to kick 75 (for the season)," said Close, to which Donaldson replied with a chuckle: "He didn't think I was going to kick 75 in six games. He didn't allow for that!"
The reward for his freakish form was a trip to Stawell to play for the VCFL district league representative team against South Australia's best country footballers.
Donaldson's team copped a thumping, yet he held his own by kicking four of the Victorians' six goals.
Cuttings from newspapers, illustrating his exploits, now decorate the entrance to the Crows' social room.
The only negative in Donaldson's dream season has been Longwarry's inconsistent results. In the lead-up to the finals, the Crows' form has swung wildly. They had a humiliating loss to third-placed Bunyip by 146 points in round 16, during which Donaldson spent time at full-back playing on fellow century-goalkicker Ryan Ablett. It was certainly a reality check, as Ablett finished with 11 goals.
A week later, Donaldson returned to form with nine majors as Longwarry beat Buln Buln by 57 points. Last Saturday, the Crows copped an 85-point thumping from fellow finalist Poowong.
Yesterday, Longwarry (sixth) played in the second elimination final against Bunyip (third) at Nar Nar Goon. Remarkably, for such a talented player, it was Donaldson's first finals match.
Article first appeared: The Age
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