Macrae was drafted with the sixth selection in the2012 AFL draft. He made his debut the following year in 2013. He received a nomination for the2013 AFL Rising Star award in round 8 of the 2013 season. Since then, he has been an AFL Premiership player, three-time All-Australian midfielder, three-time Doug Hawkins Medallist, two-time Gary Dempsey Medallist and a Gary Ayres Medallist. He has polled a total of 106Brownlow Medal votes in his career, and holds the all-time league record for most disposals in a season.
Macrae is the second son[4] to father David and mother Rosie.[5] He was a Hawthorn supporter growing up.[6] He played junior football for the Kew Rovers in theYarra Junior Football League.[7]
Macrae attended secondary school atCarey Baptist Grammar School, with future AFL players such asJack Viney andNathan Hrovat.[8] Macrae was not selected to play for theOakleigh Chargers in his bottom age year, meaning he had to continue playing school football.[9] After having flown under the radar, excitement grew around Macrae after he began to rapidly improve. He hired formerCarlton playerIan Aitken to improve his kicking technique after he completed Year 11, which he said helped him become a 'more damaging kick'.[4] While playing for his school,Carey Baptist Grammar School, he was coached by former North Melbourne playerDavid King; under his guidance Macrae won thebest and fairest for the team despite being around 4 future AFL draftees.[10][11]
When he gets the ball, he changes the speed of the game, the angles of the game and always bites off the harder option… I think he'll be an outstanding half-forward flank with really good lateral moves. He'll definitely play 100 games and I'd be staggered if he didn't play in 2013… For me, it's his ability to baulk and embarrass players.
Macrae was selected to play for theOakleigh Chargers in theNAB League in 2012, and quickly became an integral part of their team. While playing for the Chargers, Macrae averaged 24.5 disposals, 15.7 kicks, 8.8 handballs, 5.2 marks and 2.1 tackles out of his 12 games with the Chargers.[11] Becoming one of the Chargers' best junior finals players, he was named as one of the team'sbest on ground in multiple finals. In Oakleigh's 46-point semi-finals win against theDandenong Stingrays in September 2012, he was named as one of the team's best players that game.[12] He was then namedbest on ground in the Chargers' 83-point preliminary final demolition of theNorth Ballarat Rebels, where he kicked 3 goals.[13] Finally, he was named as the most valuable player in the team's thrilling 1-point victory over theGippsland Power in the grand final,[14] where he kicked a crucialbehind to secure the team's premiership trophy.[10][15][16] He was named as theOakleigh Chargers' best finals player, after averaging 28 disposals a game during the finals series,[17] and came third in the club's best and fairest count with 68 votes, 15 votes away from obtaining first place.[18]
He was also selected to play for Vic Metro in theAFL Under 18 Championships,[19][20] where he played every game.[17] He cemented his reputation as a dangerous player and boosted his draft chances after a six-goal game against Tasmania, including four goals in one quarter,[10] claiming the best on ground title for that match.[21][22][23] He averaged 19.4 disposals a game, at a 78.4% efficiency rate.[22] Despite his consistent performances, he missed out on making the Under 18 All Australian team.[24]
Macrae was predicted to be taken anywhere in the2012 AFL draft between pick 6 and pick 13.[17] He was recruited to the Bulldogs with the sixth selection in the2012 AFL draft, one pick behind future premiership forwardJake Stringer.[25][26][27][28]
Before debut, Macrae gained muscle and improved his fitness in order to improve his chances of selection, stating "You have to earn your right to play senior footy and first of all you have got to train well and prepare well."[29] Macrae made his debut for theWestern Bulldogs in Round 4 of the2013 AFL season againstAdelaide.[30][31][32] On his debut, Macrae kicked his first goal,[33] and also collected 16 disposals, 4 tackles and 3 clearances.[34] Macrae was awarded the round 8 nomination for the2013 AFL Rising Star after collecting 26 disposals, 5 marks and 4 tackles[35] in theWestern Bulldogs' 32-point defeat toGold Coast.[10][20][36][37] Macrae had one of his best games for the season in theWestern Bulldogs' round thirteen 60-point loss toRichmond, collecting a season best 27 disposals, as well as 3 marks, a tackle and three clearances.[38] Despite being one of the youngest players in the match, Macrae was named as one of the Bulldogs' best on ground.[39] In August of the 2013 season, Macrae signed a 3-year contract extension, keeping him at the Bulldogs until 2016.[40] At the conclusion of the season, Macrae was presented with the Chris Grant Best First Year Player Award,[41][42][43] after averaging 17.92 disposals throughout his 13 games that season.[44]
Macrae's 2014 season was one of the best seasons by a second-year player in history, in contrast to the Bulldogs' mediocre14th place season. Becoming a key part of the new Bulldogs' midfield, he recorded 25 or more disposals 15 times.[45][46] Macrae started out the season with an impressive performance that saw him named best on ground in theWestern Bulldogs' 65-point loss toWest Coast.[47] He gathered 31 disposals, breaking his personal best from the 2013 season, and also got 2 goals, 7 marks and 3 tackles.[48] Just two rounds later, Macrae was again named best on ground in the team's 2-point win overRichmond.[49][50] He collected 30 disposals, 1 goal, 9 marks and 6 tackles.[51] Macrae stamped his mark on the AFL in theWestern Bulldogs' 28-point victory againstGold Coast in Round 17, becoming the youngest player to record 40 or more disposals in a game.[45][52][53][54][55] Macrae gathered 43 disposals while kicking 2 goals, taking 6 marks and 5 tackles.[56][57] Macrae was named best on ground,[58][59] and received lots of praise for his effort.[60][61] He followed up his incredible performance with another solid 32 disposal effort the next round in theWestern Bulldogs' 7-point loss toEssendon.[62] He also collected 1 goal, 7 marks and 4 tackles.[63] Macrae was rewarded for his stellar second season with the Doug Hawkins Medal, awarded to the player who places runner up in the Western Bulldogs best and fairest voting.[64][65][66] He collected 168 votes, 67 votes behind first-placedTom Liberatore.[64][65][66] He also claimed the Tony Liberatore Most Improved Player Award.[64][65][66] He was named in the preliminary squad of the22 Under 22 team,[67] but narrowly missed out on making the team.[68] Macrae also collected the highest number of Brownlow votes out of any Bulldog that season, with a total of ten.[69][70][71] He picked up the maximum best on ground 3 votes twice, in Rounds 3 and 17, and picked up 2 votes twice in Rounds 12 and 18.[72][73][74]
Macrae backed up his previous season with another solid season, averaging 26 disposals a game.[75] With the Bulldogs making the finals for the first time since 2010,[76] it was a year of improvement for both Macrae and the team. His first game for the season, theWestern Bulldogs' 10-point win overWest Coast, saw him named as the Bulldogs' second best player in the match, behindMatthew Boyd.[77] He collected 31 disposals and 8 marks in his impressive performance.[78] In April that year, he signed a two-year contract extension alongside fellow 2012 drafteeJake Stringer, keeping him at the club until 2018.[79][80] Despite averaging 21.3 disposals in the first 6 rounds of the season, and collecting 23 disposals the previous game, Macrae was omitted for the 7th and 8th rounds of the season.[81][82][83] He was again kept out of the senior team in round 8, despite a 37 disposal, 6 tackle game for the reserves team the previous week.[84][85] In his next game in the reserves he collected a game high 10 tackles and another above 30 disposal game, leading coachLuke Beveridge to put him back in the main side in the 9th round.[85][86] His round 12 performance in the team's 72-point demolition of theBrisbane Lions saw him collect his highest disposals count that season, a total of 35, while also getting 6 marks and 4 tackles.[87] This dominant game saw him earn 3 Brownlow votes.[88] He had one of his best performances for the season in the team's 22-point win againstGold Coast in the 15th round of the season,[89] after he collected 33 disposals, 1 goal, 2 behinds and 10 marks.[90] Macrae earned another 3 Brownlow votes in his best on ground performance after he played his 50th career game in theWestern Bulldogs' 64-point sweep overPort Adelaide in the 19th round of the2015 AFL season.[88][91][92][93] In the match, he collected 30 disposals, 2 marks and 2 tackles.[94] Macrae placed in 8th position in theCharles Sutton Medal,[95] 76 votes behind first-placedEaston Wood.[96][97][98] Macrae improved on his Brownlow performance slightly from the previous year, obtaining 11 votes, putting him at second place in the club and 27th overall.[99][100][101][102] He picked up maximum votes twice, in Rounds 12 and 19, as well as 2 votes in rounds 14 and 15, and 1 vote in round 10.[103]
Macrae enjoyed another consistent season in 2016, averaging 27.6 disposals throughout his 22 games in theBulldogs' fairytale season, where they broke a 62-year premiership drought from 7th place on the ladder.[104] He never had under 20 disposals in a game that season, highlighting his consistency. He started out the season with a bang, collecting 30 disposals and kicking a goal in theWestern Bulldogs' 65-point annihilation ofFremantle in the opening round, getting named as one of the team's best players that match.[105] He also contributed with 5 marks, 4 tackles and 3 inside 50s.[106] He had two of his best games for the season in the 6th and 11th[107] 2016 rounds respectively, getting 33 disposals in each game.[108][109] He earned 1 Brownlow vote for his performance in Round 11, his only vote that season.[110] He was named as one of the Bulldogs' best players in the team's round ten 21-point victory overCollingwood,[111] collecting 32 disposals, 6 marks, and a season high 10 tackles.[112] In Round 12 he had a hamstring scare, but despite this managed to play the next week.[113] Macrae tore a hamstring tendon in theWestern Bulldogs' 25-point loss againstGeelong in Round 19, a devastating blow for Macrae and the team, who were close to finals.[114][115][116] In a battle against time to be fit for the finals, both he and teammateTom Liberatore underwent an intensive rehabilitation program.[117] Both players benefited from the newly introduced AFL pre-finals bye which gave them extra time to be deemed fit enough for selection in the Elimination Final againstWest Coast.[118][119][120] Macrae and Liberatore were just two of five changes Beveridge made to the team[121] and the risk paid off, with the Bulldogs upsetting the highly fancied Eagles by 47 points. Macrae would go on to become one of the Bulldogs' key players in their amazing finals campaign, averaging 30 disposals a game throughout the finals series.[6][122] Macrae had his best game for the season in theWestern Bulldogs' 23-point victory againstHawthorn in the semi-final, as he racked up 39 possessions and was influential in the Bulldogs' second-half demolition of a team they had previously never beaten in finals, and had not beaten since the 2010 season.[123][124][125] He was named as one of the best on ground, behind Bulldogs starMarcus Bontempelli.[125][126][127][128] In the thrilling preliminary final againstGreater Western Sydney, Macrae held his nerve to kick the winning set shot goal deep into the final quarter to get the Bulldogs into their first grand final since 1961.[129][130][131][132] In theGrand Final, he was again among the Bulldogs' best with 33 disposals.[122][133][134]
Jack Macrae during the AFL round two match between the Western Bulldogs and Sydney on 31 March 2017
The2017 AFL season saw Macrae rapidly rise to the top of the Bulldogs midfield, improving his midfield work. He played every game of the season and averaged 27.5 disposals a game,[140] while gathering 30 or more disposals in 8 games.[141] Round 5 saw him perform as one of the best players for the Bulldogs in a 32-point comeback victory over theBrisbane Lions.[142] In that game, he collected 29 disposals, 1 goal, 3 marks and 3 tackles.[143] Macrae had a similarly good performance just two rounds later in Round 8, where he was named as one of the Bulldogs' best,[144] collecting 32 disposals, 1 behind, 4 marks and 4 tackles.[145] Round 12 saw Macrae be named as one of the Bulldogs' few good players in a 46-point loss toSydney.[146] He took 32 disposals, a team high for that game, and also 5 marks and 4 tackles.[147] By around halfway through the season, it was clear how much of an impact Macrae was having, touted as one of the team's most valuable players that season so far.[148][149][150] Macrae got better as the season went on, having one of his best performances in the Dogs' thrilling 1-point victory overNorth Melbourne in the 14th round, where he gathered 32 disposals, 5 clearances and 10 tackles.[151][152] He earned 2 Brownlow votes for that game.[153] In round 17, Macrae earned 2 Brownlow votes and collected above 30 disposals in theWestern Bulldogs' 20-point win overCarlton.[154][153][155] He was named again as one of the best in Round 20, collecting 32 disposals againastBrisbane Lions.[156][157] Rounds 22 and 23 saw him pick up a combine 3 Brownlow votes, as he hit a purple patch towards the late end of the season.[153] He hit his highest disposals count for the season after a best-on-team performance[158] in the team's loss againstPort Adelaide in Round 22, collecting 41 disposals.[159][160] He once again earned two Brownlow votes for his performance in Round 23,[153] after collecting 33 disposals,[161] 3 marks and 7 tackles in the team's 9-point loss toHawthorn.[162]
Macrae finished third in theCharles Sutton Medal voting for 2017,[163][164][165] winning the Gary Dempsey medal awarded to third place in the Bulldogs' best and fairest voting. He tallied up a total of 155 votes, 30 behind back-to-back winnerMarcus Bontempelli.[163][164][165] He recorded 8 Brownlow votes,[166][167] thrice getting 2 votes and getting 1 vote twice.[153]In November that year, Macrae signed a long term four-year contract, keeping him at the club until 2022.[168][169] After signing, Macrae stated: "I've loved playing for the club and am excited about what the future holds, I'm proud to be on the verge of being a 100-game player at the club, and motivated to continue to improve my game every season."[170][171][141] List managerBrendan McCartney said "Jackson took his game to another level in 2017, and has become one of our most consistent performers, while he is already an important member of our midfield, he still has massive upside, and it's fantastic to see him recommit for the long term."[170][171][141]
Jack Macrae during Western Bulldogs training on 7 August 2018
Macrae stood up for his team in 2018, moving into the elite category of footballers.[172][173] He got named as the best Bulldog on ground in his 100th game againstGreater Western Sydney in Round 1 of the2018 AFL season.[174] He gathered 31 disposals, 1 behind, 5 marks and 6 tackles.[175] Macrae had close to his best game for the season in Round 2, where the Bulldogs were outdone by a formidable Eagles team by 51-points.[176] In that game he collected a match-high 31 disposals, as well as 3 goals, 6 marks and 4 tackles.[177] He had two impressive back to back perfromrnaces in Rounds 7 and 8, getting a combine total of 87 disposals in those two games. Round 7 saw him have an excellent game againstGold Coast, where he totalled 40 disposals and got named best on ground.[178] He was given threeBrownlow Medal votes for his performance.[179] Then in Round 8, Macrae broke his career record of disposals in a single match, collecting an incredible 47 disposals in the team's 14-point win againstBrisbane Lions.[180] He was once again named best on ground and received another 3 Brownlow votes.[181][179] These performances boosted his reputation as one of the AFL's best midfielders, gaining attention and praise from the media.[182][172][183] He broke his record for most tackles in the next game with 13 tackles, a game high which saw him get named as the Bulldogs' best player on ground for the third game in a row.[184][185] Macrae suffered a low-grade hamstring strain in theWestern Bulldogs' 57-point loss toPort Adelaide in the 14th round of the season.[186][187][188] He returned to the team in Round 17,[189] and collected 33 disposals in his first game back, which saw him named as the Bulldogs' best.[190][191] Macrae's performance in the final round of the season was one of his best, kicking a goal and gathering 43 disposals in a dominant performance againstRichmond, which saw the Bulldogs narrowly lose.[192] This performance saw him nab all 3 Brownlow votes for the third time that season.[179]
Macrae was named in the preliminary squad of the2018 All-Australian team,[193][194][195] but missed out on making the final squad, which many considered unlucky due to his incredible performance all year.[196][197][198] Macrae received the Doug Hawkins medal for the second time in his career after placing just 1 vote behindLachie Hunter in the Western BulldogsCharles Sutton Medal voting, tallying 190 votes over 19 games that season.[199][200][201] He also won the John Van Groningen Domestique award for 2018, awarded to the player who places the team above themselves in games.[202] Macrae secured 14 votes in the2018 Brownlow Medal, placing equal-19th in the count.[203][204]
Macrae had his most successful season to date in 2019 being selected in the All-Australian team and being placed high in the Brownlow Medal count at the end of the year. The pre-season saw him work hard to improve his skillset, stating "I pride myself on my performance year-in, year-out and there's still so many areas for myself to improve which is really exciting,"[205] Macrae had 36 disposals and a goal in the second round of the year, which saw theWestern Bulldogs pull off a major comeback in the final quarter to defeatHawthorn.[206][207] He earned 3 brownlow votes for his performance.[208] Apart from a 36 disposal performance againstRichmond in Round 7, he had a relatively quiet start to the season. Round 14 was the first time he collected over 40 disposals that season, getting 41 disposals[209] in theWestern Bulldogs' 9-point loss toCollingwood to be one of the Bulldogs' best on ground.[210] He earned two Brownlow votes in this game.[208] Round 19 saw Macrae as one of the finest players in his team,[211] taking 38 disposals, 7 marks, 5 tackles and 8 clearances,[212] which resulted in him being given two Brownlow Medal votes for that match.[208] This game would see him kickstart a run of five consecutive Brownlow vote winning performances, greatly pushing him into Brownlow Medal contention. Round 20 saw Macrae earn 2 Brownlow Medal votes in a dominant display over theBrisbane Lions,[208] where he set his disposals record for that season at 45.[213] He also collected 4 marks, 7 tackles and 12 clearances.[214] Round 21 saw him earn another 2 Brownlow Medal votes in the team's 104-point anhliation ofEssendon.[208] He kicked 1 goal,[215] and collected 38 disposals, 2 marks and 8 tackles.[216] Round 22 saw him earn another 3 Brownlow medal votes,[208] after he tallied up 39 disposals, his 10th consecutive time getting 30 or more disposals in a game.[217] In that game, he also collected 1 mark, 3 tackles and 7 clearances.[218] Another outstanding performance in Round 23 saw Macrae earn back-to-back best on ground honours, securing another 3 Brownlow Medal votes.[208] The 34-point win overAdelaide saw Macrae collect 1 goal, 35 disposals, 4 marks and 8 clearances.[219] Macrae was also named as the Bulldogs' best in their disappointingElimination Finals loss toGreater Western Sydney, after collecting 32 disposals, a game high.[220]
I mean seriously, we will call for a spill of the board if he doesn't make All-Australian. It is remarkable what this kid is doing.
Macrae won a plethora of awards at the season's conclusion. He was awarded with his maidenAll-Australian team honour, alongside teammateMarcus Bontempelli.[222][223] The AFL player ratings system saw Macrae ranked as the 10th best player in the entire competition.[224] He was named in the Herald Sun's top 50 players for 2019 with All-Australian teammate Bontempelli and young gunJosh Dunkley.[225] He earned a career-high 22 votes in the2019 Brownlow Medal, placing equal eighth in the count with teammateMarcus Bontempelli.[226][227] Macrae also got his third top-place finish for the 3rd season in a row,[228] winning the Gary Dempsey Medal with a total of 268 votes, 31 behind 1st placed Marcus Bontempelli.[228][229] He also led the league for most disposals averaged per game, averaging 33.4 disposals over his 23 games that season.[230]
The2020 AFL season was another successful one for Macrae, who averaged 26.39 disposals a game even with shortened quarters. He participated in theState of Origin for Bushfire Relief Match, playing on the Victorian team with teammate Marcus Bontempelli and against teammateJason Johannisen.[231] He wore the same number as his Bulldogs jersey, number 11.[232] It only took Macrae until the third round of the year to receive his first best on ground performance, receiving 3Brownlow Medal votes after his 25 disposal performance in theWestern Bulldogs' 24 point win overGreater Western Sydney.[233][234] He also collected 5 marks and a game-high 7 tackles.[235] In Round 7, Macrae earned another 2 Brownlow votes after he contributed to theWestern Bulldogs' 42-point flogging ofEssendon.[233] He had 29 disposals,[236] 2 marks, 2 tackles and 4 clearances.[237] Macrae had his second best on ground performance for the year againstGold Coast in Round 8,[233] racking up 29 disposals,[238] 2 marks, 6 tackles and 7 clearances.[239] Another 2 votes were awarded to Macrae in his 150th career game[240] in the 9th round of the season, where he was the shining light in theWestern Bulldogs' 41-point defeat toRichmond.[233] He gathered 37 disposals, the highest in the game and the equal second highest for the season,[241] as well as 2 marks, 4 tackles and 4 clearances.[242] Round 11 saw Macrae receive only 2 Brownlow votes, despite setting the record in the2020 AFL season for most disposals in a single game,[241] tallying up 40.[243] While he did not receive the 3 best on ground votes, which were awarded toLachie Neale, he did receive 2.[233] He also kicked 1 goal, and had 4 marks, 4 tackles and 3 clearances.[244] His Round 16 performance againstWest Coast was also impressive, earning him two Brownlow votes.[233] He racked up 29 disposals,[245] 2 marks, 3 tackles and 5 clearances.[246] Macrae had one of his lowest disposal counts for the season in the team's 3-pointElimination Final loss toSt Kilda. Despite this, he still had the third-most disposals out of anyone on his team.[247]
Once again, Macrae amassed a number of awards at the season's end. He was selected for his second All-Australian team in a row, this time named on the wing.[248][249] He polled 15 votes in the2020 Brownlow Medal, placing equal 5th with other stars likePatrick Dangerfield,Luke Parker, andDustin Martin.[250][251] Despite polling the most votes out of any Bulldog in the Brownlow Medal count, Macrae placed 4th in theCharles Sutton Medal count with 154 votes, 51 votes behind first-placedCaleb Daniel.[252][253]
Macrae began the2021 AFL season in good form, collecting 35 and 41 disposals in his first two games, and being named in the Bulldogs' best in both matches.[254][255] A 32 disposals, 1 goal round 4 performance againstBrisbane Lions saw him again be named one of the team's best, nabbing 9 coaches votes to place him at equal-second in the count up to that point.[256] Macrae obtained coaches votes in every single round up to and including Round 6,[257] after a dominant Round 6 performance with 40 disposals, a goal and 8 inside 50s securing him 8 votes.[258] Macrae drew praise from his coach Luke Beveridge after his dominant early season display, where he stated "Jack has had his best start to any season since I've been the senior coach".[259] Macrae became just the second player ever to collect 30 or more disposals in the first 8 rounds of the season, the only other player beingDavid Thorpe in 1971.[260] After Macrae collected 31 disposals in round 16 againstNorth Melbourne, he set the all-time record for most consecutive 30-disposal games inVFL/AFL history, with 15 in a row.[261] Macrae performed strongly in the Western Bulldogs' finals campaign, winning the Gary Ayres Award as best player throughout the finals series.[262]
Following hisAll-Australian years, Macrae fell out of favour at the Bulldogs, playing more prominently in theVFL and the starting substitute in AFL matches. A stand out performance in the VFL came early in the2024 season when he collected 46 disposals and 16 clearances againstGold Coast.[263] At the conclusion of the 2024 season, Jack Macrae requested to be traded despite being contracted until 2027. Macrae nominatedSt Kilda and was officially traded on 16 October.[264]
Macrae started strong for his new team racking up 34, 35 disposals across the first 2 games of2025. This was due to him being shifted back into the inside midfield and centre‑bounce attendance zone atSt Kilda. Macrae averaged around ~12% centre‑bounce attendances at theWestern Bulldogs in 2024, but after two games in 2025 at St Kilda he jumped to ~79% average.[265][266] Macrae showed dominance in 2025 which was highlighted by his outing of 38 disposals and 14 clearances inRound 8. However this run was cut short due to Macrae sustaining a punctured lung in Round 10 which caused him to miss the next 3 weeks.[267] Even though Macrae couldn't fully recapture his form previous to his injury, Macrae had games of notice in Rounds 15, 17, and 22.[268]
Macrae is in a relationship with Louisa Macleod, who he took to the2017 Brownlow Medal presentation night.[269] The couple married on 6 January 2024.[270]
Macrae appeared in an advertising campaign for McDonalds that began airing on television throughout the early months of 2021.[273] He has done charity work with Team Ladder, an official AFL player charity which works on using the power of players and industry to help improve the lives of young people.[274]
^The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to theimpact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
^abc"Jack Macrae Stats".AFL Tables. Retrieved18 October 2016.Cite error: The named reference "afltables" was defined multiple times with different content (see thehelp page).
