Hawthorn great Jordan Lewis has questioned the Kangaroos' decision to hand defender Luke McDonald a five-year deal, keeping the backman at Arden Street until the end of the 2026 season.

McDonald took home the Syd Barker Medal last year following a stellar season for North Melbourne, with the tough flanker added to the club's leadership group ahead of this season.

LUKE MCDONALD
Defender
North Melbourne
2020 SEASON AVG
20.2
Disposals
4
Marks
5
Rebound50s

McDonald thrived in his defensive duties under Rhyce Shaw and is set to continue to add plenty of speed off half-back for David Noble in 2021.

His rise at the club has earned him a lucrative new deal along with emerging midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke, who signed a two-year deal on Saturday.

However, despite the celebrations between McDonald and the Kangaroos, Lewis has come to question the contract, believing the 26-year-old isn't deserving of such a long-term deal.

โ€œI think usually those contracts are saved for players who are at the elite level,โ€ he said onย Fox Footyโ€™s Saturday Stretch.

โ€œHeโ€™s a good player and had a very good year last year, but I donโ€™t think heโ€™s at that elite level.

โ€œI donโ€™t think there would be too many clubs asking the question if he is out of contract, so Iโ€™m a little bit surprised theyโ€™ve signed him for that long of a deal because I donโ€™t think heโ€™s going anywhere.

โ€œHeโ€™s a good player for the North Melbourne Football Club, but I donโ€™t think he was gettable for other side. They probably thought the need to sign him for whatever reason.โ€

Speaking to the North Media following the announcement of his new deal, McDonald stated he wouldn't want to play anywhere else.

โ€œWhen the club sort of came to me to negotiate it was a pretty swift negotiation because Iโ€™m so committed to this club and canโ€™t wait to bring us back to where we belong,โ€ McDonald told North Media.

โ€œ[Iโ€™ve] been a North Melbourne fan my whole entire life and I suppose another five years here I jumped at the opportunity.

โ€œI think it takes me until Iโ€™m about 31 so Iโ€™m just proud Iโ€™m going to be a one club player, just like my dad was, and thereโ€™s not too many of them these days.

โ€œIโ€™m really, really proud to be a North Melbourne player and itโ€™s the only club Iโ€™ve ever wanted to play for."

North Melbourne are set to face Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on Sunday in their Round 1 clash, with McDonald a late withdrawal due to a quad complaint.