Alexander “Alec” McDonald was born at Woodford Park, Maclean on the NSW north coast. Alec learned his football while playing for the local Woodburn team.
He was from a teaching family and in the late 1920’s he came to Sydney and attended the Hawkesbury Agricultural College.
The College had a proud history of producing rugby union players. It is likely that Alec honed his skills there while studying.
Alec McDonald was called up by Wests Rugby Union Club in 1928. He replaced regular five-eighth Harry Bartley who was on tour with the Australian Wallabies in New Zealand.
