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

[Beerfish]

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

 

[ghostdog]

He's a good player that unfortunately instead of refining himself into an elite player has learnt to coast and repeat bad habits in our mediocre culture.

He would look much better in a side that developed him properly, ironed out his entitlement issues and had the right players to compliment his attributes within a good system.

It started with the issuance of his jumper number to sell memberships.

 

[Lore]

I wish we had both.

 

[Milanista28]

He's just John Noble

9

John Noble

Age

27

Ht

180cm

Wt

72kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.3

4star

K

9.2

4star

HB

7.1

4star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.0

4star

MG

186.1

3star

D

14.2

3star

K

7.7

3star

HB

6.5

4star

M

3.2

3star

T

1.8

3star

MG

149.7

3star

D

18.8

5star

K

11.0

4star

HB

7.8

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.2

4star

MG

229.8

4star

, sure he's a former pick 1, on a pretty juicy 6 year deal, other than that, they're the same.

 

[ant555]

McGrath can lock down though. McKenna just wants to go all the time.

He can lock down when he is playing well but as I said his defensive form this year was more McKenna than some of his previous good form. Back half of this season he was very ordinary defensively. Way too much zoning off or ball watching.

 

[MightyDon]

Just another none competitive essendon player, downhill skier looks good when the game is on our terms goes missing drops his head when it’s time to dig in. This concept of him being much better in a better team could be said about absolutely anyone, he’s a senior player, he’s the VC, he was a number 1 draft pick, he is the one who needs to stand up set the standard and make his team mates better players, this is not some first or 2nd year player

 

[jdstorm]

McGrath is a better defender. McKenna is a better kick.
McGrath is sometimes a great kick. McKenna is never a great defender.
I think that sums them up.

Problem is McGrath often undoes all his defensive work with poor turnovers that result in easy goals.

Doesn’t matter how good of a defender you are if your ultimately giving up more points then you stop

 

[ghostdog]

Problem is McGrath often undoes all his defensive work with poor turnovers that result in easy goals.

Doesn’t matter how good of a defender you are if your ultimately giving up more points then you stop

This is where we need stats.

 

[dank420_]

Problem is McGrath often undoes all his defensive work with poor turnovers that result in easy goals.

Doesn’t matter how good of a defender you are if your ultimately giving up more points then you stop

We had a lot of our back 6 give up extremely dumb goals this year but I wouldn't think McGrath was anywhere near the worst offender. Hell, even Martin was worse than him. Those dinky kicks... yuck.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

We had a lot of our back 6 give up extremely dumb goals this year but I wouldn't think McGrath was anywhere near the worst offender. Hell, even Martin was worse than him. Those dinky kicks... yuck.

Martin is 3 years younger, playing in backline for first time and isn't our VC though.
I would also argue majority of the time Martins errors came from biting off more than he could chew with an attacking kick into corridor rather than short sideways kicks or panic handballs to relieve pressure on himself like more senior players like Andy and Redman did frequently.

 

[bombersim]

Just another none competitive essendon player, downhill skier looks good when the game is on our terms goes missing drops his head when it’s time to dig in. This concept of him being much better in a better team could be said about absolutely anyone, he’s a senior player, he’s the VC, he was a number 1 draft pick, he is the one who needs to stand up set the standard and make his team mates better players, this is not some first or 2nd year player

He’s a fake leader. Just rolls out a series of catch-phrases when we lose.
Should be on a sitcom. I feel like he has another level he could go to, if he could be bothered. Doubt he’ll get there though.

 

[dank420_]

Martin is 3 years younger, playing in backline for first time and isn't our VC though.
I would also argue majority of the time Martins errors came from biting off more than he could chew with an attacking kick into corridor rather than short sideways kicks or panic handballs to relieve pressure on himself like more senior players like Andy and Redman did frequently.

I think this is revisionist. It doesn't really matter what role the others have, McGrath is not the worst offender by a long shot. And Martin definitely screwed up crappy little 20m kicks from a kick in that went straight to the oppo. Same with Laverde, same with McKay. McGrath is a lot more reliable than that.

 

[jdstorm]

I think this is revisionist. It doesn't really matter what role the others have, McGrath is not the worst offender by a long shot. And Martin definitely screwed up crappy little 20m kicks from a kick in that went straight to the oppo. Same with Laverde, same with McKay. McGrath is a lot more reliable than that.

At some point there’s a baseline of competence, being “better” then other players who also don’t meet it isn’t much of a brag

This is where we need stats.

Agreed but also don’t know how accurate they would be. Essendon’s defensive stats were skewed pretty badly by players higher up the ground hanging them out to dry

 

[ghostdog]

At some point there’s a baseline of competence, being “better” then other players who also don’t meet it isn’t much of a brag


Agreed but also don’t know how accurate they would be. Essendon’s defensive stats were skewed pretty badly by players higher up the ground hanging them out to dry

There's your problem then.

 

[jdstorm]

There's your problem then.

Not really. Those players aren’t responsible for stupid back half turnovers that would if you treated them as a player added up all the goals scored off them be in the race for the Coleman.

 

[hurlygurdy]

Solid player but we'll never forgive him for not being a star. I expect him to find more consistency over the next few years as he is often trying to do too much at the moment. The same could be said of a lot of the side at the moment, just need to be a little more settled in what they do

 

[MightyDon]

I see he got the encouragement award

 

[The Prosecutor]

I genuinely don't understand how he finished fourth in the B&F, especially ahead of Caldwell.

 

[The Donners]

I genuinely don't understand how he finished fourth in the B&F, especially ahead of Caldwell.

Did they completely erase the second half of the season?

This club, seriously.

 

[andleanback]

The fact that he somehow finished above Caldwell is an absolute disgrace, and he optimizes everything that is wrong with the club

 

[DERO]

The fact that he somehow finished above Caldwell is an absolute disgrace, and he optimizes everything that is wrong with the club

It may also demonstrate how out of proportion some of he commentary on here is.

 

[andleanback]

It may also demonstrate how out of proportion some of he commentary on here is.

No it really isn’t

 

[MiguelM]

The fact that he somehow finished above Caldwell is an absolute disgrace, and he optimizes everything that is wrong with the club

To be fair, he was very good in the first half of the year.

 

[DERO]

No it really isn’t

Maybe. Seems a bit confirmation biasy though.

 

[eth-dog]

It may also demonstrate how out of proportion some of he commentary on here is.

Yep. My thoughts exactly

 

[Vindicater]

The fact that he somehow finished above Caldwell is an absolute disgrace, and he optimizes everything that is wrong with the club

McGrath was tracking as an all Australian squad member in the first half of the season.