Star Dee will play, but club is concerned

MELBOURNE swingman Tom McDonald has had scans on his troublesome foot after failing to get through training.

McDonald looked to be in discomfort at the Demons’ session yesterday and, after a long conversation with medical staff, he left the track early.

The in-form utility pulled up sore after the thrashing of Carlton — his fourth game back after missing two months with a persistent toe problem.

He has kicked 13 goals in the past month, including five against Gold Coast and four against the Blues.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said McDonald was highly likely to play against Adelaide in Alice Springs on Sunday, but he also admitted he was concerned.

“Of course it’s worrying because you’ve got a player who’s in really good form who hasn’t trained,” Goodwin said.

“But at the same time, as it stands now, he’s confident that with a couple more days and training on Saturday that he’ll be right to go.

“It was more precautionary to take him off the track. We’re pretty confident — and we’ve got some training ahead — that he’ll be right to play.

“We certainly won’t be taking a risk with Tom. He’s working his way back, we’re monitoring his loads, and he was a bit sore still from the game on the weekend.

“But in saying that we’re comfortable that it might settle down as well. “We will just wait and see.” There was better news for Jack Viney. The co-captain came through his first senior game back from a long-term foot injury unscathed and trained strongly yesterday.

“He pulled up great. It was great to get the captain out there again,” Goodwin said.

“He gave us a lot of pressure around the contest and great leadership on field so ... he’s working his way back.”