AFL Player 1: Andrew "Pidge" McGrath (vc) - The skip we didn't know we needed

[Beerfish]

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

 

[Chief Hopper]

Reason he was moved out was because we had Parish/Merrett/Shiel. Well this is what happens when none of them play

That awful midget midfield mix set us back 5 years. McGrath et all back then were all very similar, played one type of game and when they were at full strength, we still got blown away by Geelong.
McGrath being in a competent midfield mix is showing what he is capable of.

 

[Keystone agony]

That awful midget midfield mix set us back 5 years. McGrath et all back then were all very similar, played one type of game and when they were at full strength, we still got blown away by Geelong.
McGrath being in a component midfield mix is showing what he is capable of.

Component or competent?

Gresham, Kako, Hobbs is apart of a competent midfield mix?

For me Mcgrath going back was more about not having anyone there, than it was about the midfield. Shiel and Parish have hardly been a part of the side for a few years now

 

[Mikevk123]

flick parish and keep him in the middle.

 

[fairbump_playon]

That awful midget midfield mix set us back 5 years. McGrath et all back then were all very similar, played one type of game and when they were at full strength, we still got blown away by Geelong.
McGrath being in a component midfield mix is showing what he is capable of.

A lot of backwards handball to each other is how I remember that era

Everyone gets 40 and we lose by 6 goals

 

[King Patty]

If Merrett left, I don't think I would mind seeing McGrath Captain us, especially if he played like that every week.

 

[Keystone agony]

A lot of backwards handball to each other is how I remember that era

Everyone gets 40 and we lose by 6 goals

Now everyone gets 20 kicks and we lose by 6 goals ha

 

[fairbump_playon]

Now everyone gets 20 kicks and we lose by 6 goals ha

Much better!!!

 

[bacon buster]

If Merrett left, I don't think I would mind seeing McGrath Captain us, especially if he played like that every week.

Jesus... is this really widespread sentiment?

 

[Nifft]

I feel like all the preseasons etc have finally hit him. He looks nuggety and powerful - akin to a Neale or Sinclair.

I was thinking the same thing. I think they should leave him in the midfield, especially with Nguyen playing well as a lockdown, and Redman playing better in a slightly different role.

It does raise the question again though about what do we do when all our other smaller mids are healthy.

 

[Nifft]

Good game sure but it wasn't exactly against stellar opposition.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera isn't good opposition?

 

[Keystone agony]

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera isn't good opposition?

More so its a dead rubber, even NWM knew that and didnt bother too much

Cant go off anything thats a dead rubber, too many can be switched off and its hard to tell from the stands or couch

 

[dank420_]

More so its a dead rubber, even NWM knew that and didnt bother too much

Cant go off anything thats a dead rubber, too many can be switched off and its hard to tell from the stands or couch

It was a dead rubber against the dees too. Look what he did there.

 

[FootyGuru]

I don’t know how our mid mix will look next season. Don’t know who’s going or staying. But Scott mentioned in presser this season when we had setterfeild tsatas Caldwell all in the same side, that the ball wasn’t getting run out of stoppage. Just over handballing and not taking grass. I think with Shiel going we actually need McGrath in there, or at least a player like him. Maybe tsatas will develop that part of his game.

 

[Nifft]

More so its a dead rubber, even NWM knew that and didnt bother too much

Cant go off anything thats a dead rubber, too many can be switched off and its hard to tell from the stands or couch

NWM was still out of contract. I don't think he was intentionally taking it easy.

 

[ant555]

I don’t know how our mid mix will look next season. Don’t know who’s going or staying. But Scott mentioned in presser this season when we had setterfeild tsatas Caldwell all in the same side, that the ball wasn’t getting run out of stoppage. Just over handballing and not taking grass. I think with Shiel going we actually need McGrath in there, or at least a player like him. Maybe tsatas will develop that part of his game.

McGrath's skill set does provide that bit of dash from stoppage so it is logical he could provide it post Shiel.

I would love it if Tsatas got it into his game. If he did then the kicking and lack of physicality become less of an issue and he would begin to be the type of player we where looking at drafting.
Despite not being a fan before the draft I did think he had the scope to be a Treloar type. Unfortunately he has shown extremely limited signs of doing it. Solves a few problems if he does.

 

[Keystone agony]

It was a dead rubber against the dees too. Look what he did there.

The NWM part was a lol

 

[Old Campaigner]

That awful midget midfield mix set us back 5 years. McGrath et all back then were all very similar, played one type of game and when they were at full strength, we still got blown away by Geelong.
McGrath being in a competent midfield mix is showing what he is capable of.

I think that was also the period/era where the big, crash-and-bash inside midfielder was the dominant force in football and we were fronting up with those three which didn't typically end well.

These days the most impact comes from what seem to have been labelled 'transition midfielders' and including a shortarse like McGrath in the mix is less of a handicap (and maybe even a strength).

 

[naraku]

Buddy plays his best game for the club after going from VC to C and you think he will play more free without it?

While this is true, he didn't do enough in his time with VC (on field, I don't know what he does off of course) and I think the time is right to look at someone/s else.

We'll see.

 

[MightyDon]

Any news of a contract extension for Andy?

 

[bacon buster]

Tonight was a perfect example of why he’s not, and will never be a midfielder. He just is not clean enough by hand or foot

I’d be happy trade him if there is significant value out there in the market. I think he’d be a good lockdown defender for a contending side who needs one. He’d be perfect at Geelong. We don’t need a 27 year old lockdown defender right now.

 

[carloss]

Sold his teammates intro trouble multiple times.
Erratic disposal.
When Nguyen goes past him for that lock down role, I don't see a role for Andy.

 

[NAB777]

Might be the nicest guy in the world, but I would take whatever we could get for him.

 

[Kyptastic]

Don't know what game you guys were watching. Andy had another good game.

 

[faible]

Reminder of why he didn't work in the midfield mix we had a few years ago. Losing Durham messed up the balance that made McGrath work against the Saints, and Carlton run a group of big bodied (but slower) midfielders that obliterated us on clearance. McGrath wasn't 'bad' but he didn't have the same impact he did against the Saints.

I think McGrath can be a good midfielder if the rest of the balance around him is right, Durham's attack on the footy creates more room for McGrath to move through stoppages to good effect.

Instead of Durham he had Kako and Shiel / Perkins for company. None of whom are physical the way Durham is.

With a fully fit group, I could see him slotting in alongside Caldwell and Durham to good effect, their aggression and strength at stoppages creates more space for McGrath to use his lateral movement and run from stoppage.

 

[SpeckieMcVeigh]

Don't know what game you guys were watching. Andy had another good game.

Agreed. And I'm one of his biggest detractors on this entire site. He has a bit too much hospital handpass in his game, but his tackling stands out in the midfield. Plus, I've actually seen him lower his eyes more in the last month than he had for 3 years prior.