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

[Beerfish]

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

 

[donlav99]

A couple of them were, sure. But then you're dropping more than half the side based on the last 2 weeks if that's the case. And McGrath to his credit is one of the few guys that can consistently hold his head up high in this department, most of the time.

it's about setting standards. Make examples of players. I know the club has been so sht scared to upset any players since the saga, but it's time. Mcgrath is a big boy now (not physically of course, Dodo drafted him), but he can handle it.

 

[cAsEy_18]

it's about setting standards. Make examples of players. I know the club has been so sht scared to upset any players since the saga, but it's time. Mcgrath is a big boy now (not physically of course, Dodo drafted him), but he can handle it.

But should we drop McGrath, Stringer, Parish, Heppell, Cox, Hind, Redman, Martin for this week, all of whom at different times this weekend failed to chase as hard as they should have? Or just McGrath, because David King or someone probably highlighted a few.

Therein lies the issue with dropping 1 guy to send a message, when there are plenty guilty.

 

[Runk]

For the past few years, game after game, I've been expecting him to step up and lead on field, to be clean by hands and foot & make smart decisions whilst under pressure, all of which imho are characteristics befitting a #1 draft pick.
And yet I'm left shaking my head instead week after week....

For someone who is incredibly well spoken, clearly an intelligent person, he would have to be one of/if not the dumbest footballer on our team. The rushed handballs to a player under the hammer, the handballs that go to a players feet or don't even reach the recipient, the shanked kicks, the run with the ball until you're in trouble or place your team mate in trouble and the inability to just be smart with the ball is pure unadulterated Essington. McGrath is the Essington barometer.

Unless there's some sort of pivotal turning point for Andrew there should be no expectation other than he remain a lock down back pocket player with zero creativity.

There's no way this guy should ever be the Captain of this club.

 

[donlav99]

But should we drop McGrath, Stringer, Parish, Heppell, Cox, Hind, Redman, Martin for this week, all of whom at different times this weekend failed to chase as hard as they should have? Or just McGrath, because David King or someone probably highlighted a few.

Therein lies the issue with dropping 1 guy to send a message, when there are plenty guilty.

haha that's the whole reason why you drop 1 to send a msg. Puts everyone on notice that if they don't meet standards, they'll find themselves in the same position as McGrath (or whoever gets dropped for not meeting team standards).

 

[Darealrath]

Tryer but doesn't give us any real zip or break lines and doesn't use the ball very well. In hindsight we got a less versatile blue chip Mark Baguley.

Can't remember if I posted it or was telling a mate but a few years ago I thought we'd effectively drafted a Drew Banfield equivalent #1 pick. Now I'm not even sure if he's that good.

 

[citizen-erased]

For the past few years, game after game, I've been expecting him to step up and lead on field, to be clean by hands and foot & make smart decisions whilst under pressure, all of which in imho are characteristics befitting a #1 draft pick.
And yet I'm left shaking my head instead week after week....

For someone who is incredibly well spoken, clearly an intelligent person, he would have to be one of/if not the dumbest footballer on our team. The rushed handballs to a player under the hammer, the handballs that go to a players feet or don't even reach the recipient, the shanked kicks, the run with the ball until you're in trouble or place your team mate in trouble and the inability to just be smart with the ball is pure unadulterated Essington. McGrath is the Essington barometer.

Unless there's some sort of pivotal turning point for Andrew there should be no expectation other than he remain a lock down back pocket player with zero creativity.

There's no way this guy should ever be the Captain of this club.

yeah.

I know there's behind closed doors type stuff that he's probably rated on, but going off an outside looking in fan point of view, i don't see what he brings as VC
but then who is our VC?

 

[ant555]

Not totally shocked with that vision. People said he was a good defensive midfielder but some of his defensive efforts in the midfield looked the same . Jogging 15 meters off the pace .

 

[Runk]

yeah.

I know there's behind closed doors type stuff that he's probably rated on, but going off an outside looking in fan point of view, i don't see what he brings as VC
but then who is our VC?

I'd make Ridley the VC. He shows much more on field leadership.

 

[citizen-erased]

I'd make Ridley the VC. He shows much more on field leadership.

ridley has the capacity to drop the shoulders, throw the head back, etc.

again, its outside looking in, but i'd be backing either Redman with a bit of work to stop the BJ style finger pointing and do more rallying....or we target a leader in the offseason.
i honestly don't see it from anyone outside Zach.

 

[faible]

ridley has the capacity to drop the shoulders, throw the head back, etc.

again, its outside looking in, but i'd be backing either Redman with a bit of work to stop the BJ style finger pointing and do more rallying....or we target a leader in the offseason.
i honestly don't see it from anyone outside Zach.

Hobbs IMO

 

[citizen-erased]

Hobbs IMO

too soon. though i don't think he'd be far off tbh. Just has a bit to learn himself, then i'd absolutely make him Zach's deputy.

i reckon Brad is forward thinking enough to know you can recruit leaders. they don't necessarily have to come from within.

 

[Runk]

Hobbs IMO

He's absolutely Captain material but he's not ready for a leadership role yet.

 

[frodos gardener]

I’ve done that before on the field (the way he let Weightman go) and you feel pretty bad afterwards. In my situation, I was playing ruck and had the upper hand for most of the game, but I was a bit gassed and let my opponent run down forward and he got on the end of a goal. I know what my mentality was… “I can’t run… hopefully it will be ok” and unfortunately it wasn’t ok. I think it was the last time I let it happen.

The thing is, Andy is an AFL player. He simply cannot do that. It’s probably not the first time but it absolutely has to be the last.

I’ll wait until the end of the year before drawing any solid conclusions on him and his future with us. Fingers crossed he sees the vision and doesn’t do it again.

 

[MarkJohnson#1]

I’d rather he become a lockdown defender and let Hind be the line breaker. His disposal is putrid, not sure it’s ever been this bad. It’s a toss of the coin who’s worse out of him and Hepp disposal wise…

 

[MiguelM]

I’ve done that before on the field (the way he let Weightman go) and you feel pretty bad afterwards. In my situation, I was playing ruck and had the upper hand for most of the game, but I was a bit gassed and let my opponent run down forward and he got on the end of a goal. I know what my mentality was… “I can’t run… hopefully it will be ok” and unfortunately it wasn’t ok. I think it was the last time I let it happen.

The thing is, Andy is an AFL player. He simply cannot do that. It’s probably not the first time but it absolutely has to be the last.

I’ll wait until the end of the year before drawing any solid conclusions on him and his future with us. Fingers crossed he sees the vision and doesn’t do it again.

They surely look at this stuff regularly. Difference is when it is made publicly probably carries more weight.

Thing is for me, often we see our defenders/wingers 5-10 metres off their opponents. Happened all night on the wings. I'd kill for a player like a Maynard or Butters who have that manic pressure.

With McGrath it is compounded as a result of his disposal too (not the only one). When he goes for a run then turns the ball over, himself and the whole team is in offensive mode and we get smashed on the rebound where he is out of position with the rest of the backline.

Both gut running AND disposal are killing us. We don't pressure opponents enough causing errors where as our disposal is always under pressure, last few weeks especially. Maybe training loads are too high leaving us unable to run out games, as Scott alluded to.

I think the Cats scored over 100 points on turnovers alone. You are not winning much on the back of that and defensive pressure is nigh impossible on the rebound if it happens so much. Was a big issue under Rutten too along with contested marking.

 

[bombreys]

I’d rather he become a lockdown defender and let Hind be the line breaker. His disposal is putrid, not sure it’s ever been this bad. It’s a toss of the coin who’s worse out of him and Hepp disposal wise…

Agreed - something seems to have changed the past few weeks. Are the coaches asking him to attack more?

When he focuses solely on being that lockdown small, he's pretty good.

The way he's played the last couple of weeks, I'd honestly like to see him dropped before Kelly (well aware that would never happen).

 

[jdstorm]

The biggest change the past 2 weeks has been the opposition manning up and asking Essendon to play a different style of football.

Forcing them to take the game on a bit more, win 1 on 1 physical contests and dispose of the ball with more thought and higher execution pressure.

Essendon has been found not up to the level.

This whole year the message is let’s learn and be free to make mistakes. As long as players keep showing up, keep trying (even with bad mistakes) I think that’s enough to hold your place in the side for now. Especially with current injuries.

See how things go but it’s about the lessons learned going forward and there’s a lot of lessons to be learned for sure

 

[Keystone agony]

Hope Papley plays fwd mainly which he should and Mcgrath gets the job and silences him

 

[frodos gardener]

Seriously think he should be dropped. Some of those lazy jogs are so far from the standard we need.

 

[biglaycock]

Seriously think he should be dropped. Some of those lazy jogs are so far from the standard we need.

Yep send him back to the 2’s.

Panic kicks, caught out of position regularly and that 3rd quarter sprint effort were enough for me to want him out.

 

[MightyDon]

Give the VC to reddog

 

[BomberTime]

I hate his kicking. Hate.

He honestly doesn’t try to hit a target.

 

[ghostdog]

Andy's work to support his team mates tonight was pretty strong I thought. His lack of pace for a small defender really annoys me though.

 

[VexOh]

Can we delist? Or nah? Is that rude?

 

[Nicholas61]

Why has he lost that little bit of extra pace he use to have? Remember that horrid final in Perth where he looked a class above our other players - it's like there has been the case of an invasion of the body snatchers. Maybe he is playing with an injury?