I reckon McGrath will play round one and make an immediate impact, either as an outside/in midfielder or back pocket. His game looks complete, and he is physically ready to play now. Great in congestion, give and go handball, side step, pace off the first step and acceleration in the open, and tackling. He’ll win a lot of one on one contested ball, and as a result effect turnover scoring in our favour. He’ll put the ball to our advantage 20-25 times a game, and I expect to see a really good partnership form between Zerrett, Heppell, Parish and he when he plays midfield.
McCluggage doesn’t look as ready, but he will prosper under the AFL training program. He’ll play a lot of 3/4 game time and do some really smart things in the games he plays, and the crowd will go “oooooh that was good”. He’ll do a lot of goal assists and shots at goals himself as a HF/mid, and will have both a real and a perceived influence on games.
McGrath will provide excitement with winning the turnovers and popping up everywhere. McCluggage will provide excitement through the winning of stoppage ball in the forward half leading to scores.
But Blitz will probably want the one who isn’t playing for us more just because we could have had him.