#1 Andy McGrath - from April 2022

[All-Star_Bomber_18]

@Ants

Because he was tracking to be an elite midfielder,

What elite traits as a midfeilder had he got?

He is an inside mid that is too small to win the contested footy vs the bug boys.

He panic kicks out of packs

[Ants]

See below.

@Ants

@Tagger

Parish and Merrett turned into elite midfielders under the same program as Andy (parish even had a worse development program than Andy). McLuggage would have turned into the same gun he is if he was here.

It’s got nothing to do with development, it’s just that Andy isn’t a midfielder at AFL level.

McGrath was headed for being an elite midfielder, then he got injured and then we played him down back.

• In 2020 he was averaging 5.0 clearances a game (equal #13th in the league), 23.1 disposals (14th) and 5.1 tackles (14th) pre-injury. Rounds 1-14.

• In 2021 pre-injury he averaged 5.2 clearances (37th), 26.1 disposals (34th) and 5.3 tackles (20th) pre-injury. Rounds 1-11.

His 2020 in particular was stellar pre-injury. Top 15 in the league. Last year he was a little behind that, but still solidly top 40 pre-injury. Probably sacrificed his game a bit for Parish in 2021.

Clearances, tackles and disposals.

@Ants

@Tagger

@Ants

And I’m saying that’s BS.

Luckily the objective source - the stats - agree with me.

I mean if you want to ignore the stats I showed you weeks ago (that you ignored) that supported what the test showed about his poor ball use

I went back and found the post. Which wasn’t actually directed to me.

@Tagger

It’s hard being a number one pick, because you’re not just assessed as an individual player, but you’re also assessed as the pick.

There are valid criticisms for Andy with his ball use. In every year of Andy’s career he has averaged more turnovers per game than score involvements. The best players have their fair share of turnovers, but also help contribute to scores.

Andy currently is 80th in the league for disposals per game, but is 282nd for score involvements but if 12th for turnovers. So it appears to be a combination of too many turnovers and too few score involvements.

That’s where Andy needs to improve and build on todays good game. Thought he did a lot of good work

In reply, pre-injury:

2020: McGrath averaged 4.5 turnovers (ranked 17th in the league) and 3.2 score involvements (ranked 221st)
2021: averaged 4.7 (40th) and 6.0 (43rd)

So:

• pre-injury your statement was wrong for 2021.
• Both stats were trending the right way, up for SI and down for TO
• 2020 was poor. But others ranked equal 17th for turnovers in 2020 were Oliver, Cotchin and Curnow. Comparing all 4 players:

Player	Disposals	Clearances	Score Involvements	Turn overs
McGrath	23.1	5.0	3.2	4.5
Oliver	25.0	6.5	3.8	4.5
Curnow	18.6	4.2	3.7	4.5
Cotchin	18.3	4.3	3.3	4.5

McGrath looks fine against a pretty elite group. ALL of them had lower SI than TO in 2020.

So I again say, Blitzers are being harsh on McGrath.

He ranked well against that group.

[somo84]

@sj_2150

Pfft. 25 years old is a kid.

Are you for real? No, it isn’t.

@sj_2150

And you underrate him hes played some very good football in his time with us.

True. His 2017 season was a ripper.

@sj_2150

Dont know when the narriative changed around him.

When his development came to a grinding halt and he regressed. So…2020. Admittedly, injuries played a role.

@sj_2150

But hes not average by any stretch

Again, are you serious? Average is very generous. His form in the last two seasons has been terrible.

[Ants]

He’s also turned 24 in June.

[somo84]

Fair enough. Was responding to another poster. Still, 24 ain’t a kid either.

[sameold]

Pull up some highlights of McGrath through the middle.

Let me see those damaging kicks going up forward, his ‘elite’ kicking and defensive efforts.

Ofcourse his stats would compare, due to the fact he was getting minutes in the middle. He was lacklustre.

[westozziebomber]

@Ants

Because he was tracking to be an elite midfielder,

we over rate our own like no one else. he’s had good games in the middle. yep. but tracking to be a elite mid is plain wrong. you would get laughed out the pub

No one rates mcgrath bar essendon supporters. And even some essendon supporters dont. Im not saying thats my view, i said my peice above.

[barnz]

essendons lewis taylor

[Ants]

@sameold

Pull up some highlights of McGrath through the middle.

Let me see those damaging kicks going up forward, his ‘elite’ kicking and defensive efforts.

Where did I say elite kicking? Like many inside mids his kicking isn’t top notch.

If you want me to show videos of his defensive efforts please point me to someone who produces those for AFL players, and we’ll see if he’s missing.

@sameold

Ofcourse his stats would compare, due to the fact he was getting minutes in the middle. He was lacklustre.

So simply being played in the middle meant he was ranked top 15 and top 40 in the league for clearances, tackles and disposals in 2020 and 2921 respectively?

On that argument put me in the middle and I’ll be among the better players with those stats, right?

[sj_2150]

@somo84

Fair enough. Was responding to another poster. Still, 24 ain’t a kid either.

I dont know why you guys are so hung up on this. The term is extremely subjective. But in my view, a 25 year old is a kid. Maybe im showing my age…

[somo84]

Yes, it’s subjective. But not at 25. Not even close. I’d say 18-22. Maybe more for a ruckman.

[sameold]

We aren’t having this disagreement on a player for no reason Ants and you can tell, Blitz is torn on McGrath.

Please go back on McGraths posts in this 2019-2020 in blitz. Let me tell you, most of those posts don’t give you the inkling that he was playing like a top 15 midfielder in the game.

[sj_2150]

@somo84

Yes, it’s subjective. But not at 25. Not even close. I’d say 18-22. Maybe more for a ruckman.

if you agree that its subjective. then yes hes a kid.

[Rom]

Could potentially be the best lockdown backpocket in the League if he embraces that position, get the feeling that is not what he wants though.

[somo84]

That’s some odd reasoning you have there. Whatever floats your boat.

[sj_2150]

you’re making the boat go round in circles!

[sameold]

Can we take this ‘kid’ term relative to football years please. 25 is a prime year for a footballer. Years 1-3 18-21 you’d be classified as a ‘kid’

[brady]

@Chris_1993

@darkknightpheonix

given how scott played, he brings this mentality to essendon

Given neither Worsfold nor Rutten were adverse to physicality as players, I don’t think playing style transitions to coaching like that.

Mate, you need to see him in the coaches box! He’ll show more emotion in one game compared to what we’ve seen for the past 15 years, since the Sheedy era.

[Chris_1993]

Emotion in the coaches box means SFA. I want a good, consistent, gameplan.

[Finding_Nino]

Its hbf or nothing for Pidge