Sydney Swans forward Logan McDonald will have woken up on Monday morning with a sore body and a sense of deja vu. In two consecutive games against Fremantle and St Kilda, he had marked the ball at the death with the opportunity to win games the Swans had done their best to lose. The responsibility fell on McDonald to deliver with the decisive kick and he missed both times.

Against Fremantle, McDonald had engaged in a lengthy conversation with the umpire about his line and was noticeably unsettled from his routine. He completely missed the target.

On Sunday in Marvel Stadium, the job was far simpler, the kick was also just outside the 50-metre range, but it was straight in front. McDonald could have kicked to a teammate, but he wanted to take responsibility himself as a forward. This time the kick was on target, but it fell to the left for a behind.

If McDonald makes the kick, he completes his redemption arc in just two weeks. It is part of the injustice and thrill of sport. Basketball great Michael Jordan understood singular responsibility better than most in team sport in the dying seconds of a game. “Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot........

© The Age