Tom McDonald and his wife Ruby have shared heartwarming news after welcoming a baby girl.
The Melbourne Demons veteran posted to Instagram on Saturday to announce the arrival of daughter Hildie.
‘Gorgeous Hildie, already so loved,’ he wrote in her caption alongside a gorgeous image in which he’s cuddling his little girl.
‘Baby girl has arrived! Another McDonald to love. Adored already’ Ruby added in her own post.
The images showed the adorable infant wrapped in a pink blanket embroidered with her name.
The pair were inundated with well-wishes, including from Max Gawn’s wife Jessica who wrote: ‘Hildie. Can’t wait to meet you’.
Tom McDonald (pictured) and his wife Ruby have shared heartwarming news after welcoming a baby girl. The Melbourne Demons veteran posted to Instagram on Saturday to announce the arrival of daughter Hildie
Nathan Jones’ wife Jerri chimed in: ‘Hildie! Sending all our love to the McDonalds! Can’t wait to meet her’.
The happy news comes after the couple heartbreakingly lost their third child, daughter Goldie, to stillbirth in January last year.
The shattered couple shared the devastating news on Instagram, posting a moving tribute showing them cradling their baby in hospital.
‘At 11.55pm on Sunday night, 21st of January our gorgeous Goldie Joan McDonald was born sleeping and became our angel above,’ the caption read.
‘Watching over us and her siblings until we meet again in wonderland.
‘We are truly heartbroken to have lost our baby girl at 20 weeks, but know that she will be forever and always with us all.
‘Thank you to everyone who has and continues to support our family, we will never be able to thank you enough for your kindness, love and care.
‘Please be patient with us as we navigate life without our Goldie girl in our arms.’
‘Gorgeous Hildie, already so loved,’ he wrote in her caption alongside a gorgeous image
The happy news comes after the couple (both pictured)heartbreakingly lost their third child, daughter Goldie, to stillbirth in January last year
The shattered couple shared the devastating news on Instagram
The post saw a number of football figures pay their respects when the devastating news was made public at the time.
They included champion midfielder Christian Petracca and Demons legend Nathan Jones.
The couple are also parents to daughter Bella, five and son Leo, three.
McDonald made his senior debut in 2011 for the Dees after he was recruited from the 2010 AFL draft.
He has remained a one-club player, winning a premiership in 2021.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, six babies are stillborn across the nation each day, affecting more than 2000 families each year.
The footballer made headlines in 2021 when he sparked a furious backlash by angrily opposing Victorian Premier Dan Andrews’ Covid vaccine mandate.
The premiership-winning full forward – who is fully vaccinated himself – branded it ‘ethically wrong’ and ‘unnecessary’ when he spoke to the media.
He hit out after Adelaide Crows AFLW star – and intensive care unit nurse – Deni Varnhagen said she was refusing to get vaccinated, putting her career in jeopardy.
McDonald’s comments provoked an angry online debate, with his comments coming under fire from other players, other sport stars, and commentators.
But some fans agreed with his stance against vaccine mandates, including some who were themselves immunised.
The couple are also parents to daughter Bella, five and son Leo, three. All pictured
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