McGrath cops it way too much - he’s of our most important players, top 4 (again) in the Crichton, turns 27 this year and still has his best footy ahead of him IMO.
Imagine him in a better team (same age as Saad when we traded him to FC). I actually think he’s up there with some of the best small defenders in the comp, in terms of who I’d most trust to do a job on someone.
Don’t always love him in interviews but it’d be weird to change the VC title atm. I can’t see the players voting for anyone else, it’d be a beat up in the media & realistically it won’t change how we play.
Durham & Caldwell are the next wave of leaders coming through (Caddy eventually). If he can stay on the park, I think Duursma is another one.
I think it’s the fact we got a back pocket with our pick 1 and his corporate like leadership aspirations the second he walked in the door, that annoys the masses. I agree he’s a handy small defender, but you can get one of those with a rookie pick. He does his best overall though you can’t question his dedication (ever since he moved outta the midfield).
The greatest mystery will forever be how McGrath tricked everyone to a. thinking he was a great enough footballer to be ranked the best 18 year old in the country, and b. that he was a born leader with fantastic leadership attributes.
He would do fine at a Deloitte or KPMG, but his corporate speak is utterly rubbish.
The sooner we are rid of players and personalities like McGrath the better the club will be… the longer we hold on to players like him and offer them 5+ year contracts the longer our mediocrity streak will last.