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

 

[fairbump_playon]

I'm angry and confused about my receding hairline too.

mine is so receded i might never be not confused again

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Not sure whether he’ll be a Cotchin but good article on how we intend to use McGrath predominantly in the middle rather than wing, not unexpected more natural progress

Can rising Bombers star be Essendon's Cotchin?

Andrew McGrath looms as a crucial player in the Bombers' hopes this season

www.afl.com.au

 

[boncer34]

His game was very very good Sunday. His tackles in the middle were very impressive.

 

[fairbump_playon]

I want him to take the ball on the back flank and kick goal of the century after using his insane agility and speed to weave past and through most of a team

 

[eDPS]

His game was very very good Sunday. His tackles in the middle were very impressive.

Think it was Kennedy? That he nailed on the boundary, was impressive considering in years past most of our players wouldn’t stick those tackles. He is currently 2nd in the comp for total tackles.

 

[quotemokc]

His round the body kicks that go to absolutely no one are really starting to piss me off.

 

[eDPS]

His round the body kicks that go to absolutely no one are really starting to piss me off.

Seeps through the whole team, wasn’t a feature of his game before getting drafted to us

 

[Loonerty]

Hot potato footy is absolutely not just a McGrath problem.

 

[Goat Hird]

Feel like he would thrive under better coaching.

 

[Old Stuckup]

Feel like he would thrive under better coaching.

Could say the same for a lot of our players.

 

[Donakebab]

Feel like he would thrive under better coaching.

Or in a team where he didn't have to do so much of the heavy lifting.

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

Hot potato footy is absolutely not just a McGrath problem.

Hot potato footy comes about from good pressure by the other team. Well done to them for causing us to do this.

 

[Lore]

Hot potato footy comes about from good pressure by the other team. Well done to them for causing us to do this.

A cool head under pressure will come with experience, for some at least.

 

[yodellinhank]

Hot potato footy comes about from good pressure by the other team. Well done to them for causing us to do this.

He seems a bit of a panic merchant when he doesn't have to be though. Perceived pressure?

 

[eDPS]

He seems a bit of a panic merchant when he doesn't have to be though. Perceived pressure?

You watch him swoop onto a loose ball and he will weave through traffic and deliver a fantastic hand pass but when the ball is given to him flat footed that’s when he usually just bangs it on the boot. It’s a weird one as he can work well under certain types of pressure but seems almost a coach directive to just get boot to ball as time and time again we see our players do it all over the ground when under not much pressure at all.

 

[eth-dog]

You watch him swoop onto a loose ball and he will weave through traffic and deliver a fantastic hand pass but when the ball is given to him flat footed that’s when he usually just bangs it on the boot. It’s a weird one as he can work well under certain types of pressure but seems almost a coach directive to just get boot to ball as time and time again we see our players do it all over the ground when under not much pressure at all.

It's something Richmond do as well, just roll the ball forward. Problem is that game plan has been figured out it seems.

 

[eDPS]

It's something Richmond do as well, just roll the ball forward. Problem is that game plan has been figured out it seems.

They got it forward but with a lot more focus and direction a lot of the time and it was mostly by hand and tap ons not dump kicks to nothing

 

[eth-dog]

They got it forward but with a lot more focus and direction a lot of the time and it was mostly by hand and tap ons not dump kicks to nothing

I see a fair few of dump kicks from the Tigers.

 

[eDPS]

I see a fair few of dump kicks from the Tigers.

Well now it’s coming in but not when they where up and running

 

[Albertross]

T

He seems a bit of a panic merchant when he doesn't have to be though. Perceived pressure?

That sums up most of our kicks out of the defensive half tonight though.

 

[Seb78]

Hot potato footy comes about from good pressure by the other team. Well done to them for causing us to do this.

Agree re pressure. We were miles better in the first two rounds though. In fairness Sydney, who are are much better side at applying pressure, and did so two weeks ago, as well as Fremantle who piled on plenty of pressure in the second half in Rnd 1. We were miles better from a composure point of view in those games. Tonight was just a shit show, any other team would've put us away at halftime. Lucky Carlton are just as ****

 

[yodellinhank]

You watch him swoop onto a loose ball and he will weave through traffic and deliver a fantastic hand pass but when the ball is given to him flat footed that’s when he usually just bangs it on the boot. It’s a weird one as he can work well under certain types of pressure but seems almost a coach directive to just get boot to ball as time and time again we see our players do it all over the ground when under not much pressure at all.

Distinctly remember him banging a mongrel forward when there wasn't an oppo within metres of him. Move it forward at all cost? Coaches thing could make sense. Couldn't put that one on Worsfold, we know where that's come from. Players taking a while to adjust to the plan (ie failing to use a little sense where appropriate). That comment would then make sense... I hate myself!

 

[yodellinhank]

T

That sums up most of our kicks out of the defensive half tonight though.

One i was thinking of was a forward entry. Had time and space and seemed to just bang a mongrel punt.

 

[yaco55]

Been criticised for nearly a year for criticising McGrath's kicking - The proof is in the pudding.

 

[Lore]

Been criticised for nearly a year for criticising McGrath's kicking - The proof is in the pudding.

Not to blow your own trumpet or anything