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

[Beerfish]

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

 

[TheUnicorn]

His best is pretty damn good, but his average is pretty damn average.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

i went to both private schools and public schools, and played footy with guys from both, and i think people around here read waaaaaay too much into where a player went to school

Its not so much that we as supporters think that kids from public schools v private schools are stronger/more competitive etc, the concern for me is that recruiters/teams are more biased towards players from a specific background, due to preconceived notions re leadership qualities/behaviour etc, and are missing out on talent because of this close minded view.

I dont think its that far fetched a conspiracy either considering what Adam Simpson said back in 2021.

 

[yodellinhank]

Private schools have their own variety of dickheads, but I suspect you're less likely to end up in juvenile detention if you attend one.

That's lawyers for you.

 

[Bombermania]

i went to both private schools and public schools, and played footy with guys from both, and i think people around here read waaaaaay too much into where a player went to school

The comment was more about Adrian for that reason, when we drafted McGrath, Adrian said he saw a game where Andy got over 30 possessions then said he liked Andy's family and school.

My footy team used to play Brighton Grammar and they have a great footy program that also produced Archie Perkins.

 

[Lore]

That's lawyers for you.

"good family"

 

[andleanback]

i went to both private schools and public schools, and played footy with guys from both, and i think people around here read waaaaaay too much into where a player went to school

Well recruiters also look way too much into where a kid went to school.

 

[eth-dog]

It would probably help if he didn't spend most of his podcasts talking about his school experience or talking about how he went to Brighton and his guest went somewhere else that had a huge rivalry.


The most relevant thing you can say for private schools is that they specifically recruit kids with football attributes via their scholarship programs, which means the APS/AGS inter-school leagues are a breeding ground for future footballers and therefore plenty of scouts in attendance. You're more likely to get recruited if you go to one of those schools due primarily to over-exposure.

But then because of that you also get more investment in the football programs in those schools, they have their own academy programs and ex AFL players/coaches as their school footy coaches, so you have an equity and access issue for kids in rural, regional and remote areas.

And then there are dickheads, the kind that get expelled from every school they go to until they end up in their 4th public high school and finally pull their head in (or quit). Private schools have their own variety of dickheads, but I suspect you're less likely to end up in juvenile detention if you attend one.

I think it's a meme cos of Dodoro. Honestly that podcast probably has 50 regulars at best so not many would actually care if Dodoro hadn't said it. And most of those regulars would have gone to your Scotch's, Brighton Grammar's of r Xavier's so would eat that shit up.

 

[Tassieboy]

Just jogs around giving 75% all game.

 

[Vindicater]

Needs to lost the leadership role.

 

[VexOh]

My dislike of him is inching on hate

 

[naraku]

Needs to lost the leadership role.

I mentioned this a week or two ago. Hoping Scott drops him moving forward.

 

[eighties_bomber]

possibly one of the worst number 1 picks ever

 

[Highly Evolved]

He wouldn't be getting this level of hate if he wasn't a top ten draft pick, let alone pick one. This would largely be attributed to the fact that he wouldn't be getting a game.

 

[Snake Charmer]

Spud

 

[frodos gardener]

He sucks.

At least with all the development support this year, it should de-excuse Dodo from pointing the finger and give an extra data point for Vozzo to make the hard decision about our list guy.

 

[mIKe9441]

possibly one of the worst number 1 picks ever

Jack Watts was better. No cap

 

[jmoo wan]

he hasn’t been the same player since he dropped Parish and went out on his own with the podcast

 

[Bjchan13]

Id be interested to hear cAsEy_18 and ant555 have to say on Andy

 

[ant555]

Id be interested to hear cAsEy_18 and ant555 have to say on Andy

What can I say ? His form has fallen away . He jogs around a lot. We spent pick one on a converted half back flank who did play some good footy as a defender in the first half of the year but has lost all form. The fail for me is not that we picked a B grade player with pick one. The fail was actually picking a 179cm bloke to play in the midfield with two other 180cm blokes. At the time I thought I could see their reasoning in that they where picking a guy that had some dash to break the lines but then the next confusing phase was they tried to turn him into an inside midfielder.

 

[Nicholas61]

Daniel Kerr

Daniel Kerr

Age

41

Ht

178cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.1

5star

K

10.5

4star

HB

10.6

5star

M

2.5

3star

T

3.0

5star

CL

5.5

5star

No current season stats available

D

15.6

4star

K

8.0

3star

HB

7.6

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

4.8

5star

was a small fast mid who genuinely played inside at times because he had guts. He took a lot of contact and ended up with destroyed shoulders in the end. He had a few things that Andy doesnt - courage, skill and retained his pace for most of his career. I was hoping Andy was going to be that type of mid anyhow.

As someone here mentioned the other day we really screwed ourselves in those 3-4 drafts getting Darcy, Andy, Dylan and Devon. A day before Andy's draft Dodoro was asked about our choice - he said the guy we were taking was unique and offered things no one else in the draft had.

 

[citizen-erased]

Daniel Kerr was a small fast mid who genuinely played inside at times because he had guts. He took a lot of contact and ended up with destroyed shoulders in the end. He had a few things that Andy doesnt - courage, skill and retained his pace for most of his career. I was hoping Andy was going to be that type of mid anyhow.

As someone here mentioned the other day we really screwed ourselves in those 3-4 drafts getting Darcy, Andy, Dylan and Devon. A day before Andy's draft Dodoro was asked about our choice - he said the guy we were taking was unique and offered things no one else in the draft had.

I feared we were in trouble when woosha mentioned the pomegranate dressing.

Bad omens

One job dodoro

 

[citizen-erased]

Our first selection in the 2016 AFL Draft. Welcome to Essendon, Andrew!

More info to come.

Thanks to don patch sword for the following profile:

Pick 1 - Essendon - Andrew McGrath
Team: Sandringham Dragons
Height: 179
Weight: 75
DOB: 2/6/98

TAC Games: 10
AVG Disposals: 32.4
Goals: 2

Player Traits: Zac Merrett, Jason Johannisen
Position: Midfield/Defense

Bio: Andrew uses his elite pace to his advantage whether that's carrying the footy, chasing for a tackle or spoil he likes to speed up the play. He will take the game on at every opportunity and work hard to win the footy first.

His best trait is his ability both in the midfield and in defense to be able to attack and defend to a high quality. When he gets the footy he will either take the ball under his arm and run or fire a quick and clean handball to the advantage of his teammate then work hard to receive in that chain(Jason Johannisen). When in the midfield he likes to put body on his opponent and once the ball is tapped he will push of and use his elite speed to win the footy first(Zac Merrett).

He will usually switch to defense for a few reasons. For leadership, run and drive if it has been lacking and to stop a dangerous player who is on fire. Not only has he beaten every player he has been sent to but he has also provided meaningful rebound.

Size is an issue but has an elite jump to make up for it. He can rush his kicks sometimes but when he is in full flight he can do some well weighted kicks to advantage.

For a team crying out for leadership, speed and work rate he is the best in the draft and a worthy Top 5 pick.

Bio: Andrew uses his elite pace

Lies make baby jesus cry

 

[Nicholas61]

I feared we were in trouble when woosha mentioned the pomegranate dressing.

What was that about?

 

[citizen-erased]

What was that about?

Cant remember exactly but it was early days when he was making lunch for the side.
Part of me wonders if it was a veiled warning from old woosh.

 

[Bjchan13]

What can I say ? His form has fallen away . He jogs around a lot. We spent pick one on a converted half back flank who did play some good footy as a defender in the first half of the year but has lost all form. The fail for me is not that we picked a B grade player with pick one. The fail was actually picking a 179cm bloke to play in the midfield with two other 180cm blokes. At the time I thought I could see their reasoning in that they where picking a guy that had some dash to break the lines but then the next confusing phase was they tried to turn him into an inside midfielder.

What is the jogging about? Is that just poor overall team standards, or a fitness issue, or something else?