Essendon’s Andrew McGrath may pocket $200,000 from his first year at AFL level

ESSENDON’S Andrew McGrath has dispelled any doubters who wondered if he was worthy of the No.1 draft pick. And now he’s cashing in on that tag.

ANDREW McGrath looks set to peel off an even $200,000 salary from his first year in footy, thanks to the AFL’s new pay deal.

The Essendon halfback has rapidly dispelled the doubters who wondered if he was worthy of the No.1 draft mantle with an exceptional season.

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The pacy and composed small defender has missed only one game and is the $2.50 Rising Star favourite with TAB.

Under the new salary agreement announced this week he needs only to play a final to go over the $200,000 mark in his debut season.

And as the Herald Sun reported this week, the 19-year-old is keen to sign a contract extension later in the year.

Under the deal as a first-round selection he is paid a base salary of $88,200 plus $4300 per match.

He has played 11 of a possible 12 games and if he plays all remaining home-and-away fixtures he will earn $90,300 from match payments alone.

As the AFL’s first selection he receives a $10,000 bonus, for which he must provide some promotion to the league.

He is also entitled to a maximum bonus of $10,800 by playing 11 or more games in his first year under the terms of the CBA.

Andrew McGrath in action in the season opener. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

That adds up to $199,300 — $19,035 more than he would have earnt under the previous pay deal as a first-year player in 2016.

That deal would have earned him a base of $73,660 and $3605 per match.

The $3 second favourite for the Rising Star is Hawthorn’s Ryan Burton, who signed an extension through to 2018 at the start of this year.

The Hawks picked him at No.19 in the 2015 draft after receiving a first-round pick for Jed Anderson from North Melbourne.

The Kangaroos received picks 38 and 40 in return and gave up selection 55 as well as a first-round pick, but the Hawks are well ahead in that deal.

McGrath has been so valuable as a small defender taking the opponent’s best small that he has played himself out of a midfield spot.

Andrew McGrath is tied to the Bombers. Picture: Michael Klein

Essendon coach John Worsfold said recently he was playing so well in defence he didn’t want to upset the side’s rhythm.

He gave him a quarter on the wing and onball in a recent blowout victory but McGrath will have to wait for meaningful midfield time.

His height and smaller physique — 177cm, 77kg — meant some recruiters believed Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane Lions) or Will Setterfield (GWS) were the best midfielders available in the draft.

But while McCluggage continues to show he has skill and some fancy tricks in a battling side, McGrath is clearly a 200-plus gamer at Essendon.

McGrath is under a set two-year contract which includes a financial rise next season before he can make bigger dollars from his third year on.

When he signs that contract extension he could add one or two more years to his contract, before signing a long-term deal in his mid-20s.