Footy star Tom McDonald and his wife share their joy as they welcome baby girl – after their daughter was stillborn just a year ago

Tom McDonald and his wife Ruby have shared heartwarming news after welcoming a baby girl.

The Melbourne Demons veteran announced the arrival of daughter Hildie on Instagram on Saturday.

“Beautiful Hildie, so loved already,” he wrote in her caption alongside a beautiful image of him cuddling his little girl.

‘Baby girl has arrived! Another McDonald to love. I already love it,” Ruby added in her own post.

The images showed the adorable child wrapped in a pink blanket embroidered with her name.

The couple were inundated with well wishes, including from Max Gawn’s wife Jessica, who wrote: ‘Hildie. I can’t wait to meet you’.

Nathan Jones’ wife Jerri chimed in: “Hildie! We send all our love to McDonalds! I 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 and posted a touching tribute of them cradling their baby in hospital.

“On Sunday evening January 21st at 11:55pm our beautiful Goldie Joan McDonald was born sleeping and became our angel above,” the caption read.

“I’ll watch 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 she will be with us forever and ever.

‘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 bear with us as we navigate through life without our Goldie girl in our arms.”

“Beautiful Hildie, so loved already,” he wrote in her caption alongside a beautiful 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

A number of football figures took to the post to pay their respects as the devastating news was made public at the time.

Among them were 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 being 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 WelfareEvery day, six babies are stillborn across the country, affecting more than 2,000 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 forward – who himself has been fully vaccinated – branded it ‘ethically wrong’ and ‘unnecessary’ when speaking to the media.

He struck after Adelaide Crows AFLW star – and intensive care nurse – Deni Varnhagen said she refused to be vaccinated, putting her career in jeopardy.

McDonald’s comments sparked an angry online debate, with his comments coming under fire from other players, other sports stars and commentators.

But some fans agreed with his stance against vaccine mandates, including some who had been vaccinated themselves.

The couple are also parents to daughter Bella, five, and son Leo, three. All depicted