AFL Player # 1: Andrew "Pidge" McGrath (Vice-Captain) - Signed to 2030 - 2/5

[Beerfish]

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

 

[Zach Package]

That was so fast and easy I’m almost suspicious

 

[mcgrath_truther]

That was so fast and easy I’m almost suspicious

 

[ant555]

That was so fast and easy I’m almost suspicious

Maybe its seven

 

[Godzke]

Maybe its seven

With an option for seven more

I don't mind the tenor. We always knew his floor was very high. Just a question of what dollars.

 

[fairbump_playon]

Man.. 2030. I'm gonna be like... old.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Man.. 2030. I'm gonna be like... old.

Uppercut Jnr's draft year!!

 

[Rick Ross]

McCluggage was good all season, whereas the others improved and improved as the year went on where McGrath was genuinely rated at #1 by the end of the season. Heaps of times the average punter only hears a couple of names, sometimes those names don't even get drafted, so I don't think it's necessarily an indication of much.

I thought a key factor was McGrath was seen as future leader and the Luggage was apparently quite introverted.

Sure, McGrath fits the Jackets profile of Bayside, good home, school captain, lovely family, golden retriever that didn’t put on weight, blah, blah, blah…

…but I think we definitely needed some more leadership talent coming through. Think he’s filled that bill.

 

[nipst@r]

Do you think by 2030 our older players won't look completely shot and past it?

Nah dont mind it as elite and one of best players in comp at his role. Small defender, can shut down best small fwds but also rebound.

I think if rumour of our interest and offering mccluggage 6 are true, it would be a bit stiff if we didnt also offer mcgrath 6.

a lot can change in that time so prefer 4-5 but there'd be offers of 6 from others for mcgrath, so justifiable.

 

[maskmcgee]

That was so fast and easy I’m almost suspicious

Nobody else wants him, didnt want to be embarrassed by the lack of attention?

 

[Foxx]

My boy.

AA here we come.

First AA Canadian

 

[DapperDon]

Man.. 2030. I'm gonna be like... old.

ha yeah 2030.... old ha.............

 

[hurlygurdy]

Man this the thread has turned around! What happened to the disaster of wasting a #1 pick on a back pocket? Reckon it’s all only a couple of bad games away - with 6 year spicey sauce.

 

[revival_mode]

yeah idk about this. not really loving the deal

 

[bommer16]

Interview with Sam Edmund this morning. Available on SEN.
Really good chat and very passionate Essendon person and grateful for the opportunity the club has given him.
Talks about new contract, playing group and very happy with the direction the club is taking, what they are working towards.

Worth a listen.

 

[boncer34]

yeah idk about this. not really loving the deal

Which aspect?

 

[dank420_]

Nobody else wants him

I was gonna post this as a joke

 

[The Donners]

Best first 7 rounds he’s played in years but yes he has clearly been played out of his natural position. Plays well in a contract year and receives a contract after 7 rounds.

To be honest I’m not all that enthused about the timing of the contract. Time will tell but I want to see him perform like he has for the first 7 rounds for the entire season.

 

[eth-dog]

Best first 7 rounds he’s played in years but yes he has clearly been played out of his natural position. Plays well in a contract year and receives a contract after 7 rounds.

To be honest I’m not all that enthused about the timing of the contract. Time will tell but I want to see him perform like he has for the first 7 rounds for the entire season.

His start to last year was better.

 

[Milanista28]

I honestly think his start to the year last year was better. Playing very well though

Better defensively last year, I think he's better with ball in hand this year.

 

[Vander18]

yeah idk about this. not really loving the deal

6 years is the new 3 years apparently

 

[Beerfish]

Interview with Sam Edmund this morning. Available on SEN.
Really good chat and very passionate Essendon person and grateful for the opportunity the club has given him.
Talks about new contract, playing group and very happy with the direction the club is taking, what they are working towards.

Worth a listen.

Sounds like you've covered it well here with these cliffs!

 

[The Donners]

His start to last year was better.

Subjective but not really the point.

 

[Nifft]

His start to last year was better.

Maybe the stats are better? He looks better this year though, more settled, and not throwing it on the boot so much. I also like the way he's pushing up the ground through the midfield, running with the ball a lot. He seems like a different player.

 

[mcgrath_truther]

Maybe the stats are better? He looks better this year though, more settled, and not throwing it on the boot so much. I also like the way he's pushing up the ground through the midfield, running with the ball a lot. He seems like a different player.

reckon he’s confident & backing himself considerably more than he has in the past

 

[P Money]

This season is the best he's ever played by a fair margin I reckon. I've been a hater since his second season but he's really making me eat my words, been incredible so far in 2024. Dump kicks to the opposition are all but gone, has figured out how to stop running himself into trouble by sidestepping into oppo players. If he plays like this for the next 6 years I'll have zero complaints. Yep he's still not a great #1 pick but as people have said it wasn't exactly the strongest draft year - he probably is pushing to be the #1 player of his cohort.