From ‘country bumpkin’ to 100 game player, Alex McDonald’s life began to change quickly when he was the AFL’s number one draft pick in 1988.

The spotlight shone on the 19-year-old, 69kg boy from Waubra, a town of around 500 near Ballarat as he was drafted to Hawthorn.

“I think he’s got good physical attributes,” legendary coach Allan Jeans said at the time.

Click here to view McDonald's full profile on forever.collingwoodfc.com.au.

“I’ve watched him play a few times and I believe that he suits our policy.”

McDonald walked into his dream job, although he barely saw playing the sport he loved as a profession.

“I didn’t really understand in 1988 that it was a career. For me it was doing something I loved,” McDonald told AFL Media in 2012.

“Back in those days there wasn’t as much press so the build-up wasn’t as big. There might have been a small amount of press in and around football circles but to the wider community, it was a complete shock to everyone.

“There was no expectation to walk straight in and play.”

Click here to view McDonald's full profile on forever.collingwoodfc.com.au.