McDONALD LAUDED IN LANDMARK WIN

COACH Mark Rudan has hailed Scott McDonald after the former Socceroo delivered a match-winning performance in Western United’s statement win over Melbourne Victory.

The 36-year-old made 26 appearances for the Socceroos and enjoyed a stellar club career in Scotland before joining United for his first A-League season this year.

McDonald scored the winning goal on Saturday night and played a crucial role in another, with Rudan saying the forward had “stood up” as United came back from 2-0 down less than 10 minutes into the clash to win 3-2.

“There’s been a lot of Socceroos who have come back and haven’t perhaps performed as well as they wanted to and this is a country — believe it or not — that is similar to Europe in some regards, that can be extremely negative if things don’t work out that way,” Rudan said.

“I think it’s good to question and keep asking questions of ourselves and the league — that’s the only way we’re going to get better — but he’s come on a really modest wage and I take my hat off to him.

“He’s achieved everything in his career and so the question was, ‘Why do you need to do this? There’s a lot going against you if things don’t go right’.

“So we had a really long discussion, he wasn’t playing at the time at that high level anymore … but there are certain people that you know you want to be part of creating a football club.”

Rudan said the victory would be a “defining moment” in Western United’s history.

“We’re a new football club and you look at all the clubs that are here today from 15 years ago, it’s moments like these that can define what your club is going forward,” he said.

“This’ll be a game I believe in 10 or 15 years’ time where we can look back as a football club and it’s quite a defining moment as far as I’m concerned.”

Western United returns to Geelong to face Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday.

Shane Murdoch, who both began this season with Drysdale before travelling, as well as Matthew Gunn, who has crossed from Leopold.

Jull said while the Hawks were still on the lookout for further recruits, he was happy