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Andrew McGrath says elimination final loss will spur Essendon in 2018

ANDREW McGrath says Essendon’s horror elimination final loss will motivate him over a gruelling summer and reveals how he plans to avoid the second-year blues. TRAINING PICS

Andrew McGrath at Essendon pre-season training. Picture: Jason Edwards
Andrew McGrath at Essendon pre-season training. Picture: Jason Edwards

ESSENDON young gun Andrew McGrath says the Bombers’ horror elimination final loss to Sydney will be a key motivator over what shapes as a gruelling pre-season.

The Bombers’ first-to-fourth-year players officially returned to the training track at Tullamarine in 32-degree heat today, McGrath joining 13 other players including recruit Adam Saad who had his first run since being traded from Gold Coast.

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The wooden spoon winner in 2016, Essendon completed a remarkable rise this year to secure a finals berth but bombed out of the race at the first hurdle with a 65-point loss to Sydney.

Andrew McGrath cools off at Essendon training. Picture: Jason Edwards
Andrew McGrath cools off at Essendon training. Picture: Jason Edwards
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti in full flight. Picture: Jason Edwards
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti in full flight. Picture: Jason Edwards

McGrath said that defeat still stung and the playing group was determined to take further steps forward in 2018.

“I think it will always sting,” he said.

“To go out in that way was pretty disappointing. We worked so hard to get there and to be blown out of the water was a bit disappointing. But we did learn so much from that day and we’ll take that through pre-season and use that.

“Whenever things get hard, whenever we get a bit lazy, we’ll bring it back to how disciplined and how hard Sydney were and just know that’s the standard we need to meet.”

Darcy Parish works hard in the heat. Picture: Getty Images
Darcy Parish works hard in the heat. Picture: Getty Images

McGrath — last year’s No. 1 draft pick — is targeting a permanent midfield move next year after being released from defence for the closing stages of last season. He said he had spent six of his eight weeks off doing his own training program to avoid any “second-year blues”.

“The way I look at it is you get better and better every year until you get a little bit older,” he said.

“I’m fitter, I’m stronger than I was last year so hopefully I can have a lot more impact than I did last year.

“I played the last four or so games in the midfield last year so I assume I’ll move into the midfield development group. I’ll do a lot of my craft and skill work with the mids and whether I play there Round 1 I’m not really sure yet, but we’ll see.”

McGrath and a host of other young Bombers fly out to Darwin later today for a training camp which will take in Katherine Gorge and the Tiwi Islands.

“It will be a nice experience to get away with the younger guys, get back into training, form a mini-leadership group among the younger players and hopefully bring that into the season,” he said.

Jake Long misses a shot at goal during Essendon training.
Jake Long misses a shot at goal during Essendon training.
Andrew McGrath is eyeing a move to the midfield in 2018. Picture: Jason Edwards
Andrew McGrath is eyeing a move to the midfield in 2018. Picture: Jason Edwards

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/essendon/andrew-mcgrath-says-elimination-final-loss-will-spur-essendon-in-2018/news-story/943d55e1fd07a9092b597aa2e9a96d52