He will face his former teammates at Bunton Park today for the first time since being cleared to Jindera on the eve of last season following a long contract dispute.

After winning Jindera’s best and fairest, McDonald joined Wodonga Raiders over the summer. He is looking forward to returning to his old stomping ground.

“At the same time as I’m looking forward to it, it’s just another game,” he said yesterday.

“It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been there and a lot has changed since.

“We are out to get the points and I’m not too worried about too much else.

“It’s up to North Albury how they want to go about it.”

McDonald said he had moved on from his messy, drawn-out clearance wrangle.

“I played six years there and gave the club 120 per cent both on and off the field,” he said.

“I left with my head held high. I loved my time there and am looking forward to getting back there today.”

McDonald, 31, said he was as fit as at any time in his career and was relishing player under new Raiders coach Daryn Cresswell.

“I think Cressa’s football knowledge is second to none,” he said.

“The good thing about him is that he demands a lot from his players.

“You really have to be on your toes and everyone at the club is up and about.

“He demands 100 per cent effort at training and the same on game day and everyone really put in the hard yards at pre-season training and are reaping the benefits of that.

“He is a lot different to any other coach I’ve played under. He has been great for me.”

The Raiders have won their first two matches of the season and victory today would equal the amount of matches they won last year, when they finished ninth with a 3-15 record.

“It’s only early days but so far we have done well,” McDonald said.

“But today is another test — North Albury are a young team that really like to take the game on.

“With rain expected, both teams might have to alter their game plans and it could turn out to be a wet, hard slog.”