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

[Beerfish]

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

 

[The Donners]

You can win an award for being a decent human? My goodness. This almost beats a participation award.

 

[MightyDon]

Oh well not that many international rookies work out, might be some work back home tapping maple trees

 

[ant555]

In all fairness how many would want to be playing back pocket for us knowing that whenever you get the footy the chances of kicking it to someone who can actually mark it is close to zero.

 

[eDPS]

In all fairness how many would want to be playing back pocket for us knowing that whenever you get the footy the chances of kicking it to someone who can actually mark it is close to zero.

That or a player working hard to give an option

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

 

[quotemokc]

That or a player working hard to give an option

This is an issue but doesn't excuse the no look over the shoulder snaps.

 

[eDPS]

This is an issue but doesn't excuse the no look over the shoulder snaps.

I don’t recall him doing many of those yesterday, I was talking more about the most recent game rather than the last few years

 

[Fayab99]

I have some concerns about him being a leader at the club. Doesn't seem to lead by example.

 

[fairbump_playon]

I have some concerns about him being a leader at the club. Doesn't seem to lead by example.

Or you could see it the other way.

He leads by example. It's just the wrong example.

 

[yodellinhank]

Maybe he doesn't lead and should be delisted to set an example?

 

[citizen-erased]

Maybe he doesn't lead and should be delisted to set an example?

FA this year
The band 3 comp could be handy

 

[yodellinhank]

FA this year
The band 3 comp could be handy

Yeah, but I can't see any other club overpaying like that.

 

[citizen-erased]

Yeah, but I can't see any other club overpaying like that.

North still need that big fish

 

[Nicholas61]

I have some concerns about him being a leader at the club. Doesn't seem to lead by example.

That play in Geelong last year where Holmes (I think it was) charged onto the loose ball and McGrath just moved out of the way leading to a goal is the type of stuff that cements the down hill ski culture we have among most of the younger guys. Prime Sheedy/Malthouse would have moved on these type of guys very quick regardless of status.

 

[JayJ20]

What makes his kicking average is his inability to break lines and separate from his opponent with ball in hand. This makes him rush his kicks by bombing the ball. Arguably worse than the over the shoulder snaps. Did he lose his pace or something?

 

[eDPS]

What makes his kicking average is his inability to break lines and separate from his opponent with ball in hand. This makes him rush his kicks by bombing the ball. Arguably worse than the over the shoulder snaps. Did he lose his pace or something?

He definitely doesn’t take the game on like he used to

 

[Big Fresh]

What makes his kicking average is his inability to break lines and separate from his opponent with ball in hand. This makes him rush his kicks by bombing the ball. Arguably worse than the over the shoulder snaps. Did he lose his pace or something?

He does it about once every five games. I think he still has pace but chooses not to use it with ball in hand for whatever reason.

 

[JayJ20]

He definitely doesn’t take the game on like he used to

He does it about once every five games. I think he still has pace but chooses not to use it with ball in hand for whatever reason.

Yeah he stopped doing it. I wonder if it's directed by the coaches because it doesn't make sense to me. It's a defining part of his game that made him a contender for pick 1. It's almost like he fears holding the ball more than turning it over so he panic kicks it hoping it goes to an opponent. Or maybe he isn't confident he can outrun his opponent (which shouldn't be an issue with his speed).

Interesting.

 

[Fayab99]

Yeah he stopped doing it. I wonder if it's directed by the coaches because it doesn't make sense to me. It's a defining part of his game that made him a contender for pick 1. It's almost like he fears holding the ball more than turning it over so he panic kicks it hoping it goes to an opponent. Or maybe he isn't confident he can outrun his opponent (which shouldn't be an issue with his speed).

Interesting.

I have this theory, I think bulking up made him lose his agility,
Look how good he looked in year 1;


Then we tried to bulk him up and play him midfield

he has lost his agility imo

 

[Fayab99]

he could sidestep players with ease.

 

[yodellinhank]

Bulking him up, playing him midfield, drafting him with first pick... Fair to say we've made a lot of mistakes with this guy.

 

[JayJ20]

I have this theory, I think bulking up made him lose his agility,
Look how good he looked in year 1;


Then we tried to bulk him up and play him midfield

he has lost his agility imo

Maybe that's it. We don't see that McGrath anymore.

 

[eDPS]

Bulking him up, playing him midfield, drafting him with first pick... Fair to say we've made a lot of mistakes with this guy.

I would say drafting him when we already had Parish and Merrett was a mistake, still think he could offer a similar midfield output to those two at another club.

 

[boncer34]

I would say drafting him when we already had Parish and Merrett was a mistake, still think he could offer a similar midfield output to those two at another club.

I don't. His panic kicks in the backline, which personally I don't think are quite as bad as advertised, would be amplified under the increased pressure the middle brings. And he's not a prolific enough winner like a Tom Mitchell for that to be traded off.

 

[eDPS]

I don't. His panic kicks in the backline, which personally I don't think are quite as bad as advertised, would be amplified under the increased pressure the middle brings. And he's not a prolific enough winner like a Tom Mitchell for that to be traded off.

He has the ability to be prolific but yes his kicking would be a concern. I’d want a directive for him to be more handball orientated regardless of position.