Having achieved their best season in a decade, the Blues had some reward for their efforts by beating the Highlanders 32-21 and securing the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy to have something for their trophy cabinet in 2020.
Whether there is anything more to go in that cabinet will depend on whether the Crusaders can secure an unassailable lead in Super Rugby Aotearoa by beating the Highlanders in Christchurch at the weekend.
MacDonald was proud of the effort put in by the Blues in Dunedin where they achieved their first win at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Especially pleasing was the way the side managed to make the most out of nearly every opportunity they created.
Also satisfying was the way the side recovered from setbacks, especially in the first half, and certainly after the no-try award for Dalton Papalii's intercept which resulted after Aaron Smith was ruled to have been impeded when prop Karl Tu'inukuafe dropped to the ground in a bid to avoid affecting the flow of play.
MacDonald said he would have preferred to have the try awarded.
He added that first five-eighths Beauden Barrett had impressed with his toughness in attitude by playing while having an issue with a rib injury during the week and he had not let that affect his approach in the game.
"He's a bit of an understated hero.
"He was in big danger of missing the game but he was pretty determined to play because he's got his hands on the 10 jersey and I don't think he wanted to let it up. He did everything he could [to play] and even gave up his weekly game of golf to make sure he was fit and ready to go, and that's a big sacrifice for Beaudy," he said.
Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger wasn't getting involved in the debate of the penalty against Tu'inukuafe and the belief that halfback Aaron Smith might have milked the play to earn the chance for points.
Mauger said Tu'inukuafe's action in attempting to not impede the game had affected the game.
He said the referees were the most scrutinised people on the field and they were trying their best like everyone else and needed to be supported.
Mauger said it was disappointing to lose but the Blues had deserved their win.
"Their power game was too much tonight, they dominated the gain-line and got into our 22 and took their opportunities.
"We fought hard and the effort and heart was certainly there and that was epitomised by a lot of our actions out there.
"We couldn't quite get our speed and flow going. It was a slow game, slow ball in play, stop-start and that didn't really help how we wanted to play and it certainly played in the Blues' favour," he said.
Mauger said the tries scored just before and after halftime had been crucial to the outcome and the Blues were the best side in the competition at using their power game when inside the opposition's 22m area.
"They had good tactics in slowing our ball up and taking a bit of time out of the game. There was a lot of set-piece, scrums and lineouts," he said.
The Blues exposed problems in the Highlanders' scrum were exposed and they would be looking to tidy that up ahead of the Crusaders game at the weekend, he said.