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

[Beerfish]

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

 

[Runk]

I've been pretty down on him and some of the times I've been most annoyed are his tackling efforts, bouncing the ball immediately, looking at the ground when he bounces, kicking skills where he laces out an opposition player and just a general lack of intensity.

But those things probably aren't fair to hang on just him because that is a majority of our team most games.

No, the thing that is just so disappointing is that this guy has been in the league 7 years, and still he shits himself when he gets the ball. Doesn't know what to do, where to go or how to absorb or process pressure around him.
Everything is panicked, everything is in two minds.
Just watch when he tries to draw a man in to give the handpass to the player on the boundary coming out of 50. It's obviously a set play and you can see his brain ticking. Looks like he is running and processing at half speed, no instinct.

That is your vice captain and leader unsure of what he wants to do with the ball in his hands.
We kill Hep for his cruisy knacker attitude that seeps into his leadership style.
Well how would you ever take an instruction from this guy when you see him with the ball and he looks like he would rather be anywhere else.

He will be a mainstay of this team for the rest of his career because defensively man on man he's not horrendous, because he plays off his man and reacts, his opposition plays on instinct and he mimics them with his athleticism.

But actual football wise he just doesn't have it at this level.

He is the worst number #1 pick ever. An absolutely dreadful player.

 

[citizen-erased]

I think part of the reason his form has fallen away in the back half o the year is he is trying too hard to make something happen to the point he is running to dumb spots where he is not likely to be an option. He then gets caught out getting back to defend and spends to much time running for no reward. That leads to fatigue and him just jogging. Played better when he was just defending.
I think being VC is effecting his decision making and his thinking. He is actually trying to do too much .

we're a bit of a mess over the ground.

In theory, you pick one of Kelly or McGrath as your small fwd lockdown defender. The other isn't in the side.

 

[jdstorm]

Don't want to pile on this guy and I'm probably repeating myself on this thread but geez he just epitomises Essendon at the moment. Such a nice kid, private school captain, 'good family' - must be a great leader! Mark my words he'll be a one club player, get picked every week regardless of form, probably be our next captain and get gifted contracts for 2-3 years after he's clearly fallen off a cliff because of his amazing leadership. He really is Heppell 2.0

Nah at least Heppell could hit a target by foot most of his career

 

[MarkJohnson#1]

we're a bit of a mess over the ground.

In theory, you pick one of Kelly or McGrath as your small fwd lockdown defender. The other isn't in the side.

McGrath should be our lockdown defender and Kelly should be in the VFL. I prefer Hind providing the run off the half back despite his own flaws.

 

[bennyg12]

Trade

 

[citizen-erased]

McGrath should be our lockdown defender and Kelly should be in the VFL. I prefer Hind providing the run off the half back despite his own flaws.

been thinking about the backline a bit lately. And readily acknowledge that team/ground defence is not helping. But even on paper, it's not a great line up.

Assume Ridley isn't injured (i.e. Rd1 next year).
Cox and Ridley do the same thing. They're tall intercepts. One's taller, the other is an elite reader, mark and kick.
McGrath & Kelly - really don't need both in the side. Neither are particularly good users or runners out of the backline. So you pick McGrath and have him play pure defence.
Redman is our best drive out of defence. Picks himself really.
It's been brief glimpses but i like the vision, strength and ball use from Baldwin back there.
And i reckon Zerk would be better if he wasn't manning the #1 fwd. (i.e CHB)

Baldwin - McKay - McGrath
Redman - Zerk - Ridley
Hind

feels like best balance we can aim at

 

[eighties_bomber]

trade him if anyone wants him

 

[Chambo]

If someone was silly enough to offer up a 1st rounder, take it in a heartbeat!

 

[MarkJohnson#1]

been thinking about the backline a bit lately. And readily acknowledge that team/ground defence is not helping. But even on paper, it's not a great line up.

Assume Ridley isn't injured (i.e. Rd1 next year).
Cox and Ridley do the same thing. They're tall intercepts. One's taller, the other is an elite reader, mark and kick.
McGrath & Kelly - really don't need both in the side. Neither are particularly good users or runners out of the backline. So you pick McGrath and have him play pure defence.
Redman is our best drive out of defence. Picks himself really.
It's been brief glimpses but i like the vision, strength and ball use from Baldwin back there.
And i reckon Zerk would be better if he wasn't manning the #1 fwd. (i.e CHB)

Baldwin - McKay - McGrath
Redman - Zerk - Ridley
Hind

feels like best balance we can aim at

Cox I'm concerned about. Has looked out his depth on return and I'm not sure a preseason solves his issues. That and as you highlighted is similar to a Ridley. I'd love to see him develop into a Darcy Moore type but that may be a bit optimistic.

I'm warming to giving Baldwin a better run at it. I could see him as the second tall partnering McKay as I'm just not sure where Zerk stands. Zerk gets moved off the ball far too easily and often gets caught out a few metres behind the defender so strength, speed and/or positioning concern me. Another preseason and playing next to McKay might help change that.

The player that has me stumped is Laverde. Going from a somewhat reliable defender who could play on a range of forwards and didn't get beaten too often has had a shocking year in retrospect. Is Baldwin his replacement if Zerk comes on a bit next year?

 

[eDPS]

I think part of the reason his form has fallen away in the back half o the year is he is trying too hard to make something happen to the point he is running to dumb spots where he is not likely to be an option. He then gets caught out getting back to defend and spends to much time running for no reward. That leads to fatigue and him just jogging. Played better when he was just defending.
I think being VC is effecting his decision making and his thinking. He is actually trying to do too much .

We just need to simplify his role, beat his opponent one on one and then spread from there, the games he has focused on that he has looked at his best.

 

[andleanback]

He is the worst number #1 pick ever. An absolutely dreadful player.

Still comfortably in front of a few

 

[Runk]

Still comfortably in front of a few

Jeez wouldn't be many though. Jack Watts would be it.

 

[andleanback]

Jeez wouldn't be many though. Jack Watts would be it.

Paddy mccartin, Tom scully, Tom Boyd, cam rayner, Jon Patton

 

[Runk]

Paddy mccartin, Tom scully, Tom Boyd, cam rayner, Jon Patton

Cam Rayner is about to play in a potential GF team.
Tom Boyd is and will always be a Premiership player.
McCartin was reinvented at the Swans and played in a GF until head knocks became too much.
Scully was a very good player until his feet gave way but I'll give you Scully.
Patton had 3 knee recos.

 

[andleanback]

Cam Rayner is about to play in a potential GF team.
Tom Boyd is and will always be a Premiership player.
McCartin was reinvented at the Swans and played in a GF until head knocks became too much.
Scully was a very good player until his feet gave way but I'll give you Scully.
Patton had 3 knee recos.

Who cares what team you play in? So if Mcgrath is playing in Brisbane he’s suddenly a better pick 1 because he’s playing in a potential grand final team?
Being a premiership player doesn’t mean you’re a better pick 1, Boyd had a good finals series bout outside that was hopeless and play 60 odd games.
If you want to take into account injuries take into account McGrath’s. He was on a great trajectory in 20-21 until ankle and knee injuries. Hasn’t been the same player since imo.

 

[Nifft]

If someone was silly enough to offer up a 1st rounder, take it in a heartbeat!

Would he be worth a 1st rounder? Actually, how many of our players would have reasonable value at the trade table? Not too many you'd think.

The value of our list compared to most other teams is quite low. I can't imagine too many teams that would jump at the offer to trade lists with them.


/rant

 

[carloss]

1st rounder??????? Not even sure we could get a 2nd rounder.........

 

[astrowizzle]

I wonder if his leadership has been hampered having Heppell down there who seems to do a lot of the organising

 

[Chambo]

1st rounder??????? Not even sure we could get a 2nd rounder.........

Yeah that is why I said if a club was silly enough...There is no way we trade him for a 2nd, the optics would look terrible.

 

[ghostdog]

One of (in terms of shutting down small forwards) but more importantly the ones that are better won't move.

If there's trade that improves the group, we should do it. Not trading, if there's a better option, would be stupid.

 

[ghostdog]

we're a bit of a mess over the ground.

In theory, you pick one of Kelly or McGrath as your small fwd lockdown defender. The other isn't in the side.

It would have to be McGrath. As honest a worman as Kelly is, I'm not sure the coaches think he has mucb more to offer.

 

[eighties_bomber]

If someone was silly enough to offer up a 1st rounder, take it in a heartbeat!

lucky to get a 3rd round pick for him

 

[eth-dog]

He is the worst number #1 pick ever. An absolutely dreadful player.

Absolute crap

 

[yodellinhank]

Absolute crap

Dreadful, crap and disappointing.

 

[P Money]

Nah at least Heppell could hit a target by foot most of his career

Not sure if this is actually true. Out of curiosity I recently went back and watched a few games from 2011-2013. Heppell's kicking was absolute dogsh*t even then.