Maybe he meant that he ducks his head and lifts his arms to draw free kicks.
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Standard Essendon player
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I’m biased here because Tew Jiath and Billy Wilson were two of my favourites coming into the draft.
I’ll exclude Billy because he moved up in my mind in the back half of the season once he started playing as a midfielder. He then started finding a heap of the footy, winning it inside and damaging with his foot skills. Prior to that as a defender I thought he was just okay, probably in the Archie Roberts kind of bracket.
Tew Jiath I think has a lovely balance to his game as a defender. He’s quick, and has a springy leap that lets him play taller than his height and impact marking contests. If you’ve seen his brother CJ then think CJ but bigger and with more intensity at the contest. Definitely have Tew at the top of that list.
Lual would be next for me. He’s played a bit through the middle and showed something. I value versatility, I could easily see Lual playing off a wing or a half forward flank. His dash is damaging. Some guys are quick in a time trial but never make the brave choice in a game to back their pace and use it to break lines. Lual does that regularly, especially when he’s played further up the ground. His foot skills are just okay, but I think his technique is solid so he’ll improve there. I think he’s a kid with a lot of scope to improve.
Hastie I only like when he’s tucking the ball under his arms and using his pace and agility to break lines. That is a real weapon he has. But outside of that I think he’s too loose as a defender and his disposal is a bit dodgy. I’ll be honest in saying he’s the one of that group that I’ve seen the least of, given how few Falcons players were worth watching this season. I’d have Hastie and Roberts about the same level for me, although I don’t think Roberts has that physical talent the others have and that might limit his ceiling as a player.
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better than being ■■■■
Really appreciate that considered and detailed response mate 
I guess we’ll never know who we’d have sided with if the Pies hadn’t taken Jiath and he and Lual were both still on the board at our pick but I’m pleased to hear that you’re saying that Lual has some versatility about him. If the coaches view him as a viable option as a half forward as well as a half back then it certainly gives him more scope for getting an opening into the senior team one way or the other, in time.
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I might have posted this already, but this video is of him playing through the midfield at Talent League level. He demonstrates some of his versatility here.
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With all due respect, I’ve not seen anything over the course of McGrath’s career to suggest he has any of the pace he supposedly had as an athletics star.
The bounces are in no way correlated to his speed. He bounces even when he’s in open space every 5 steps.
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He was pretty pacey in his first year. Definitely bolted off the half back line with confidence and speed. Also had great closing speed when clamping down on small forwards.
I think putting on weight to transition to the midfield has really slowed him down unfortunately.
Bloke won the rising star as as hbf we then waste a few years of his career trying to turn him into a mid.
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Warning: Left surgical boot may cause sliding
Very clean by hand and quick to move the ball on with sharp decision making.
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Way to bring down the mood in here!
Oh no, you didn’t!
Would Josh Noble be a reasonable comparison for Archie?
We’re planning on trading him already?
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I swear if I have to here this narrative one more time I’ll leave this site. Gee some amazing clearance numbers at 18s level for a guy who wasn’t a midfielder apparently
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used a #1 pick on a mid thats now a HBF
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It would be a shame to lose your deep insight as we have lost a lot over the years.
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For once I don’t have a problem with what Nino said. Both Andy and Scott have acknowledged that his best position is as a defender.
I’m sure Andy would have appreciated being settled in the defence as opposed to playing wing for a few years and then as a midfielder
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I’m not arguing his best position, the fact we ‘tried to turn him into a midfielder’ is just complete BS
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