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

[Beerfish]

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

 

[The Donners]

These guys aren't robots.

Have you ever heard them talk???

 

[citizen-erased]

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.

Iq is there imo. Lacks the height to play the same bullocking role but i see redman doing that.

Could be good being the long term VC and leading the backline

 

[The Donners]

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.

Hodge always had one of the best kicks in the game.

McGrath has no distinguishable attributes. Whatever zip he may have had is long gone. He needs to become a nuggety defender to hold his spot in a decent team imho.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

Hodge always had one of the best kicks in the game.

McGrath has no distinguishable attributes. Whatever zip he may have had is long gone. He needs to become a nuggety defender to hold his spot in a decent team imho.

I think he is just devoid of all confidence from being moved around so much. Im sure if he gets a good run of games in the backline he will find his spark again. He looked great against the saints before going down with injury.
GWS were targeting him in the draft as a Heath SHaw replacement so he must have had some level of footy nous/vision as backman in junior footy.

 

[The Donners]

I think he is just devoid of all confidence from being moved around so much. Im sure if he gets a good run of games in the backline he will find his spark again. He looked great against the saints before going down with injury.
GWS were targeting him in the draft as a Heath SHaw replacement so he must have had some level of footy nous/vision as backman in junior footy.

I don’t see any similarity to Heath Shaw.

He’s an ok footballer McGrath but he’s a bottom 4-6 player in our best 22 in my opinion. Maybe a change in coach will get the best out of him.

 

[DERO]

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

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

Forgot about Cox to be honest. Another that has maybe been shoehorned into a role that may not play to his strengths?

 

[Lawyered]

Do we know what we’re trying to do with McGrath? In another football program, would he thrive? We talk about “stability” behind the scenes as a cornerstone for success; add “successful player development” to that wishlist.

 

[NAB777]

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

That ship has sailed. He will kick the way he's always kicked.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

When looking at my best 22, admit he’s one I really struggled with. Is he just a small defender? Will we ever get anything out of him in a midfield sense?

 

[TheGrizz]

When looking at my best 22, admit he’s one I really struggled with. Is he just a small defender? Will we ever get anything out of him in a midfield sense?

I think half back as opposed to back pocket but yeah.That isn't a slight though - I genuinely think he can be an AA halfback which is very valuable.

May need to lose a bit of the bulk he added to play midfield and focus on his main strength in his power running, but he could be one of a very few number of elite 2-way halfbacks in the AFL.

 

[Vander18]

When looking at my best 22, admit he’s one I really struggled with. Is he just a small defender? Will we ever get anything out of him in a midfield sense?

Nope.

But think back to year 1 when he destroyed Betts defensively and ran off him all game. He certainly didn’t look like “just a small defender.” He looked like a guy who could be the best small defender in the game.

He looks a totally different player when he’s behind the footy.

 

[faible]

I think half back as opposed to back pocket but yeah.That isn't a slight though - I genuinely think he can be an AA halfback which is very valuable.

May need to lose a bit of the bulk he added to play midfield and focus on his main strength in his power running, but he could be one of a very few number of elite 2-way halfbacks in the AFL.

Luke Hodge did ok playing a lot of his career off half-back. It's not an entirely wasted position if McGrath shows he can dominate games by stopping the most dangerous forward and providing offensive drive the other way.

 

[FlyingV]

Would not at all be surprised if he falls out of the leadership group in order to focus on his own game. Would be a bold Scott like move

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Back to the backline

Dons gun set for positional switch as Scott assesses options

Former No.1 draft pick Andrew McGrath looks set to return to a former role at the Bombers in 2023

www.afl.com.au

 

[Bjchan13]

Back to the backline

Dons gun set for positional switch as Scott assesses options

Former No.1 draft pick Andrew McGrath looks set to return to a former role at the Bombers in 2023

www.afl.com.au

No brainer. Needs to trim up and get his zip back as well so he can mind and beat Charlie Cameron and others. Can use his voice organising defence and still provide drive from the back pocket

 

[BrunoV]

Defence is a better fit for the list.

 

[The Devils Advocate]

Sunk cost fallacy, he's a back pocket, and that's OK. If he shuts down the Greenes and Heeneys of the world and gets some rebounding run I'd be happy.

Either that, or we use him as a s**t version of George Hewitt.

Dons gun set for positional switch as Scott assesses options

Former No.1 draft pick Andrew McGrath looks set to return to a former role at the Bombers in 2023

www.afl.com.au

THANK YOU!
All Australian Back Pocket, 2023. He's an absolute gun defensive 1v1 player.
No more getting the ball off the deck and blindly hammering it forward to an opposition mid in space, or intercepting defender.

 

[eth-dog]

His best position is defence. I don't think anyone disagrees with that.

The issue was that we had nobody who consistently outside him as a defensive midfielder, until Caldwell stepped up his game in that department

 

[Mikevk123]

Can’t believe we used pick 1 on back pocket

 

[Yoda_]

Watched this mini clip the other day and a Heath Shaw coach was asked why he was never moved into the midfield. They replied why would we when we have an All Australian calibre defender on our hands?

Resonated with me because McGrath could be a seriously good player and should he be left there for a whole season could show us how well he is as a defender.

 

[Learntopray]

That was Brad Scott i think

 

[ghostdog]

Torched Jye Menzie for 2 1/2 hours in yesterday's intraclub.

Needs to step it up now and train on Walla instead.

 

[Nugget 83]

 

[Nugget 83]

 

[Keystone agony]

Torched Jye Menzie for 2 1/2 hours in yesterday's intraclub.

Needs to step it up now and train on Walla instead.

Think they like him on those who get higher up and play closer to stoppage

That requires probably a Kelly or Laverde to be playing to take the deeper dangerous small. Or Redman does it at stages depending on the matchup