AFL Player # 1: Andrew "Pidge" McGrath (VC)

[Beerfish]

Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent 2030
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 13, Vindicater

 

[Lore]

We've tried to turn a 100m sprinter into a 3 mile runner and it hasn't worked out.

He looks so gassed out there at times and his repeat efforts are not great. What did the beep and yo yo say at draft time. Did we think he can build the tank required?

The former hurdler and 400-metre junior star had little to prove by last month's NAB AFL Draft Combine, but that didn't stop him from blitzing anyway. He came second in the repeat sprints test (24.44 seconds), top 10 in agility and running jumps, and was also good in the endurance tests (13.10 in the beep test and 10:42 in the 3km time trial).

Draft Prospects: Andrew McGrath

Andrew McGrath is one of the leading contenders for the number one draft pick.

www.essendonfc.com.au

 

[Lore]

Finally got a haircut!

 

[goal kicking wingman]

Finally got a haircut!

Thats about all he did. Would have been perfect trade bait this off season to a team like Stkilda, all talk no action like Heppell. I really see no upside in his game going forward.

 

[andleanback]

He is a shadow of his former self. Not sure if he’s been carrying an injury, but needs to get his body right. Lost all his agility and confident to attack the contest.

 

[Bjchan13]

Id give him a 3/10 for that year as he did have a couple of handy games in defence.

He's gotta trim down obviously and get some zip back. He looked as slow as Heppell last night night

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Gone backwards the last couple years. Needs to leave the podcasting to the pros so he can focus on his game. What he's producing right now is just.....nothing.

Grim thinking he's supposedly our 3rd best leader.

 

[Darealrath]

The lack of composure and class for a no.1 pick who is a small is a real head scratcher.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Gone backwards the last couple years. Needs to leave the podcasting to the pros so he can focus on his game. What he's producing right now is just.....nothing.

Grim thinking he's supposedly our 3rd best leader.

Brayshaw and Gawn have a podcast.

Doesn’t negatively affect them.

 

[Albertross]

Brayshaw and Gawn have a podcast.

Doesn’t negatively affect them.

As Schnitzengruben said, leave it to the pros. 2 players from a Premiership winning team, compared to a former #1 pick playing in a bottom 4 team, who has not lived up to expectations and if anything has regressed as a player. Yep, leave it to the pros and focus on your job, playing competitive footy.

 

[andleanback]

Gone backwards the last couple years. Needs to leave the podcasting to the pros so he can focus on his game. What he's producing right now is just.....nothing.

Grim thinking he's supposedly our 3rd best leader.

Doing a podcast is not going to make him any worse or better as a player. He’s doing it outside of his club required time.

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Doing a podcast is not going to make him any worse or better as a player. He’s doing it outside of his club required time.

If you have a great deal of talent but your playing career is languishing; it might be more beneficial to put distractions aside for the time being and focus on improving your game.

Putting the extra 2 hours a week into developing a proper kicking technique would make him better as a player.

 

[DERO]

If you have a great deal of talent but your playing career is languishing; it might be more beneficial to put distractions aside for the time being and focus on improving your game.

Putting the extra 2 hours a week into developing a proper kicking technique would make him better as a player.

Doing a podcast is hardly going to impact on his ability as a footballer. These guys aren't robots and having other things outside of footy is important. This is not your best work Schnitz.

 

[fairbump_playon]

Can someone who is anti podcast explain why and how spending an hour once a month being recorded while talking to Darcy Parish

3

Darcy Parish

Age

27

Ht

180cm

Wt

81kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.4

5star

K

9.2

4star

HB

11.2

5star

M

3.2

3star

T

3.3

5star

CL

3.2

5star

D

16.6

4star

K

7.4

3star

HB

9.1

5star

M

1.4

2star

T

2.0

3star

CL

3.1

4star

D

22.2

5star

K

7.6

3star

HB

14.6

5star

M

3.2

4star

T

4.4

5star

CL

3.6

5star

is impacting McGrath’s football?

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Doing a podcast is hardly going to impact on his ability as a footballer. These guys aren't robots and having other things outside of footy is important. This is not your best work Schnitz.

That's fine. I only say that because I know McGrath can produce much better football than what he has, especially this year. He needs to have a massive pre-season and get himself back on track. Admittedly I thought the podcast was a weekly thing.

I'd like for him to finally get settled in the one position, too.

 

[jmoo wan]

Can someone who is anti podcast explain why and how spending an hour once a month being recorded while talking to Darcy Parish is impacting McGrath’s football?

it’s not just the hour recording - whenever I’ve been a guest on the bigfooty podcast, i’ve spent hours & hours on research prior plus a couple of hours of vocal exercises before recording. I’ve also enrolled in elocution lessons to ensure i have the requisite professional standards.

 

[DERO]

it’s not just the hour recording - whenever I’ve been a guest on the bigfooty podcast, i’ve spent hours & hours on research prior plus a couple of hours of vocal exercises before recording. I’ve also enrolled in elocution lessons to ensure i have the requisite professional standards.

All that work is paying off handsomely!

 

[Pweter]

I'd love to see Pidge settle in defence. You'd think he, Redman, Mass and Kelly could cover most combinations of small to medium forwards in the comp.

 

[DERO]

I'd love to see Pidge settle in defence. You'd think he, Redman, Mass and Kelly could cover most combinations of small to medium forwards in the comp.

He could end up a really damaging defender who can combine genuine defensive nous with the ability to break the lines. Maybe the solution is to settle him in on the back flank and give him license to take the game on when he can.

 

[jmoo wan]

All that work is paying off handsomely!

thanks man! always great to hear from our listener

 

[Pweter]

He could end up a really damaging defender who can combine genuine defensive nous with the ability to break the lines. Maybe the solution is to settle him in on the back flank and give him license to take the game on when he can.

It becomes about how to mix and match. You'd also say Laverde and Ridley should be on mediums, we have Zerk as a tall and we're definitely screaming out for another tall. You can see why they're trying Mass forward as small/medium defenders is probably where we bat deepest.

 

[DapperDon]

It becomes about how to mix and match. You'd also say Laverde and Ridley should be on mediums, we have Zerk as a tall and we're definitely screaming out for another tall. You can see why they're trying Mass forward as small/medium defenders is probably where we bat deepest.

We have another tall, we just chose to play him in VFL majority of the year then play him forward because Kelly stopped a guy that one time.

 

[Pweter]

We have another tall, we just chose to play him in VFL majority of the year then play him forward because Kelly stopped a guy that one time.

I get that, but we need more depth. Relying on Laverde as a KPD and Zerk with a skinny 19yo as backup isn't where we need to be.

 

[DERO]

We have another tall, we just chose to play him in VFL majority of the year then play him forward because Kelly stopped a guy that one time.

We definitely need another big fella down back. Reid is not quite there yet.

 

[DapperDon]

I get that, but we need more depth. Relying on Laverde as a KPD and Zerk with a skinny 19yo as backup isn't where we need to be.

I think that's exactly where we are though, I don't think bringing in a stop gap tall help Reid's development

We definitely need another big fella down back. Reid is not quite there yet.

Isn't Cox also assumed to be a defender next season? (I guess that could change now Rutten is gone)

Anyway, probably better discussed elsewhere rather than in Pidge's thread

 

[joey_jo_jo]

worth remembering Hodge was languishing the early stages of his career when they were trying to make him a full time mid. Hawks were always copping it from the media for choosing him over Judd and I seem to recall him struggling alot with his fitness. Its only when he got moved to the backline that he became the star and leader that we all know.
I dont think McGrath has the same footy IQ as Hodge so but its worth holding judgement on him till we get to see him full time in his correct position down back.