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

[Beerfish]

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

 

[Call Me Cake]

Loved his effort early in the match when Martin took the kick in and shanked it, Heppell was caught high, ump called advantage and McGrath mopped it up to quickly get the ball rolling into space out of defence

 

[ghostdog]

Watched the replay last night, was at the game but have average eyesight so miss things, he played forward so much more frequently yesterday, that's when he's damaging.

Having said that if we don't have structure ahead he'll look worse than he actually is, he's trying to make plays, hopefully the team can find it's groove all the time.

Same. His short kicks to then run and receive and go again can be quite damaging when he gets going. And when he goes up the ground he's like an extra mid. Gets so much of the ball. I probably need to look a bit more closely when i watch McGrath.

 

[Vindicater]

Second best on ground for my boy.

Two Brownlow votes incoming.

 

[NAB777]

Has to start looking up the ground more and dare I say it take a few more safe options . Attack is great but not when you run yourself into corners.

And subsequently handball to someone who is about to be tackled.

 

[fairbump_playon]

He was very good

Anyone who thinks not is not watching, just running with their narrative.

 

[citizen-erased]

Has to start looking up the ground more and dare I say it take a few more safe options . Attack is great but not when you run yourself into corners.

Needs to watch the howler momentum killers. Or the team need to learn when to ignore him and go long to contest. that wing play was never on.

But he had a very good game for mine. Good running. Less dump kicks.
Will assess on a less hot day, but was jogging about still when he needed to sprint after opponents.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

it was glaringly noticeable that on a number of occasions he didn't take the very first option to dish off but rather assessed and took responsibility himself. I've been so critical of this habit of his, which often looks like (and sometimes is) panicking. But on Saturday he didn't do it all the time and he was soooo much better and more impactful as a result

 

[Lore]

He's generally a pretty boring one for an interview, but the nice thing about this one is Nathan Buckley is asking the questions, and a former coach asks very different questions. Asking about Nic Martin and what he's like to play with (it's insightful Beerfish). About Sicily getting a week for kicking McGrath and that McGrath doesn't even have a bruise from it... Reidy's injury.

Kornes even said nice things about the 84/85 anniversary stuff at the game

https://www.essendonfc.com.au/video/1508137/dons-on-radio-craig-vozzo-on-abc?videoId=1508137&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1710639527001

 

[jannissary]

love that he'll go to bat for siciliy, he's a man of great character i think.

hopefully the same goes for redman and his defence

 

[citizen-erased]

love that he'll go to bat for siciliy, he's a man of great character i think.

hopefully the same goes for redman and his defence

or lack thereof sadly sorry mason

 

[jannissary]

or lack thereof sadly sorry mason

just read that one, bizarre and stupid

 

[Runk]

it was glaringly noticeable that on a number of occasions he didn't take the very first option to dish off but rather assessed and took responsibility himself. I've been so critical of this habit of his, which often looks like (and sometimes is) panicking. But on Saturday he didn't do it all the time and he was soooo much better and more impactful as a result

All of THIS

 

[P Money]

McGrath was great. Needs to drop the sidestep from his game though. Don't think I've ever seen him successfully step someone, seems to get caught every time. Much better when he straightlines the ball/runs his angles and dishes off before he hits trouble.

 

[Petrify]

Had a few howlers but on the whole one of his best games for the club.

 

[Ambrosia]

Really wish he’d cut the unneeded bounce into rushed disposal out of his game but overall he was very very good.

Just a natural in the back half

 

[Vindicater]

it was glaringly noticeable that on a number of occasions he didn't take the very first option to dish off but rather assessed and took responsibility himself. I've been so critical of this habit of his, which often looks like (and sometimes is) panicking. But on Saturday he didn't do it all the time and he was soooo much better and more impactful as a result

Yep. Seemed far more composed than usual.

 

[Kanga Commando]

love that he'll go to bat for siciliy, he's a man of great character i think.

hopefully the same goes for redman and his defence

This was most unexpected, and welcome. My opinion of him ( and actually lots of us on the Hawks board ) has been elevated to a whole new level.

Kudos to him - best wishes to him for the year ahead.

Now to get Sicily to stop exercising his right to be a d!ckhead.
Cheers all

 

[Vindicater]

My boy had a decent game.

Hope the rumours of moonboots are not real. We can't afford to lose him out of the back six

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

On the news last night showed arriving back in a moon boot. They said only pre cautionary and expect his to be right this week. I guess that means 6-8 weeks

 

[FlyingV]

On the news last night showed arriving back in a moon boot. They said only pre cautionary and expect his to be right this week. I guess that means 6-8 weeks

Precautionary moonboot? Wtf?
We cannot catch a break, next stringer will rock upto training in a precautionary neck cone.

 

[fairbump_playon]

Precautionary moonboot? Wtf?
We cannot catch a break, next stringer will rock upto training in a precautionary neck cone.

Are neck cones like bucket bongs? Because.. yes

 

[MiguelM]

Did he have moon boots on both feet?

Maybe just a bad 80s skiing fashion statement?

 

[fairbump_playon]

Maybe it's the moon boots that have been affecting his kicking

Guess I always thought it was his ball drop

 

[citizen-erased]

Will cop to criticising over the off season but he's started quite well.
Spring and attack is back.

 

[Yoda_]

very, very good today