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

[Beerfish]

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

 

[citizen-erased]

McGrath always looks so much better when he's taking ground. He's evasive, creates angles, sets up the play.

My theory on him is that he's a very good boy.

I have played with guys who I swear thought "it's not a good game unless I get to do my favourite thing". Whether that's having 5 bounces, taking a speccy or kicking a banana. So then they fly for marks that aren't there and take impossible snaps when someone is in a better spot. So annoying.

But McGrath is the opposite. He is low ego and selfless and would always rather do what he perceives as the team thing.. which is short handball, sideways kick, don't get caught out of defensive position.

Basically his one shot at being elite is to be massively painful for dynamic small forwards to play on, and then to take off to create. He needs to be told that the risk of his guy getting one out the back after a turnover will be tolerated.

eDPS Posted his under 18s and 2017 season highlights packages in the setterfield thread.
If we could that player back, he'd be elite off hbf

 

[fairbump_playon]

Can he also be told to stop with the hack kicks?

You don’t need to hack kick if you’re surging through the middle of the MCG weaving around hapless defenders

 

[fairbump_playon]

eDPS Posted his under 18s and 2017 season highlights packages in the setterfield thread.
If we could that player back, he'd be elite off hbf

I saw that, and then I came here to write about McGrath because I was scared the mods were about to get antsy about all the pigeon talk over there

 

[Call Me Cake]

"shut the f*** up and be patient"

 

[eDPS]

Unfortunate part is that he entered the league and arrived at that point essentially immediately, then we tried to change him into something he’s not for some bizarre reason.

I hope this ‘something his not’ isn’t referring to him as a midfielder because he can certainly midfield just not when we already have Parish/Merrett/Shiel.

 

[yodellinhank]

"shut the f*** up and be patient"

View attachment 1625145

You give me possessions and I'll shut up.

 

[Happyskeret]

The highlights from Andy for me were unfortunately in his Norwich star year when he done some great shut down roles on some pretty decent small forwards. Did it five times I can remember on pretty classy opponents.
As a midfielder the game that struck at to me the most was against the Hawks I think it was in the hub year I think. He had the ball on a string and hit every target and was demanding the ball I thought well this guy is about to go A grade. It was toward the end of the year and from memory he got injured shortly after that or the start of the next year and he never recaptured that form imo.
He had games after that where he won the ball and pushed forward and then he just butchered it. Not the only one guilty of that like Shiel for instance who’d get good distance but just hook the ball. I think Andy like Shiel at the time was doing the hard work to burn off opponents and then just butchering the ball.
The thing that made Andy looks worse is he doesn’t just butcher the ball but he lacks penetration as he doesn’t seem to take that pause to kick the ball properly. It’s like he is still running as he is trying to kick the ball and it results in these dinky little kicks.

 

[andleanback]

The highlights from Andy for me were unfortunately in his Norwich star year when he done some great shut down roles on some pretty decent small forwards. Did it five times I can remember on pretty classy opponents.
As a midfielder the game that struck at to me the most was against the Hawks I think it was in the hub year I think. He had the ball on a string and hit every target and was demanding the ball I thought well this guy is about to go A grade. It was toward the end of the year and from memory he got injured shortly after that or the start of the next year and he never recaptured that form imo.
He had games after that where he won the ball and pushed forward and then he just butchered it. Not the only one guilty of that like Shiel for instance who’d get good distance but just hook the ball. I think Andy like Shiel at the time was doing the hard work to burn off opponents and then just butchering the ball.
The thing that made Andy looks worse is he doesn’t just butcher the ball but he lacks penetration as he doesn’t seem to take that pause to kick the ball properly. It’s like he is still running as he is trying to kick the ball and it results in these dinky little kicks.

Yeh that game against hawthorn when we came back from 40 odd was the best game he’s ever played. Looked like a genuine line breaking midfielder, he did his ankle the next week and he’s never looked the same with his run and carry.

 

[Happyskeret]

Yeh that game against hawthorn when we came back from 40 odd was the best game he’s ever played. Looked like a genuine line breaking midfielder, he did his ankle the next week and he’s never looked the same with his run and carry.

I don’t think Parish was in the midfield equation at that time either which correct me if I’m wrong I think he was when Andy came back from the ankle.

 

[andleanback]

He’s slowly getting back to andy of old. Was great today, solid in the contest and broke the lines on offense.

 

[Old Campaigner]

did more running straight down the ground rather than sideways which was nice

 

[VelvetSledge]

That’s our Pidge. Great game

 

[bennyg12]

Massive game today

 

[citizen-erased]

Loved him backing his running.

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Great game today. Not surpsied he plays better as a defender and with continuity week to week in the lineup. Getting tossed around constantly and being used a midfield jobber was a complete mismanagement of his talent.

 

[citizen-erased]

Great game today. Not surpsied he plays better as a defender and with continuity week to week in the lineup. Getting tossed around constantly and being used a midfield jobber was a complete mismanagement of his talent.

He comes up the ground well as a defender, so the lost years not a complete waste.
He and mason give us dual threats off hbf.
Mass is a great compliment too.

 

[bombers16]

He's a small back. Who would have thought. The wasted years are over.

 

[Goat Hird]

The lesson here is if you want a mid, draft a mid.

 

[FlyingV]

He’s had a terrific start to the year. Let’s appreciate what he is, instead of what he’s not. Kept Ainsworth to one goal and had 25-offered plenty himself.

 

[eDPS]

The lesson here is if you want a mid, draft a mid.

We did draft a mid just not a pure one

 

[Milanista28]

The lesson here is if you want a mid, draft a mid.

 

[doug85]

Looking like a #1 draft pick again.

 

[carnthedons]

Looking like a #1 draft pick again.

 

[doug85]

I don’t get it

 

[carnthedons]

I don’t get it

A small defender with questionable skills who hasn’t gotten near the bests despite two relatively comfortable wins is not what you want a number 1 pick to be