Essendon’s top draft pick Andy McGrath was all smiles after his JLT Community Series debut

ANDY McGrath’s week started with a surprise in his locker. It ended with a brilliant JLT Community Series debut. So how did the youngster evaluate his performance?

Andrew McGrath in action. Picture: Getty Images

ANDY McGrath wasn’t the only one smiling when he made his Essendon debut on Thursday night.

While he’d never run out alongside the likes of Jobe Watson and Dyson Heppell, he felt like they already had something in common.

They were all being welcomed — for McGrath it was for the first time, for the returning Bombers it was back to football.

And he was rapt to be a part of it.

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“It’s just great to see all the smiles on their faces,” McGrath said.

“They’re so happy to be out there. They’re in a pretty similar position to me, I guess — coming out here for the first time this year and they haven’t played footy in a while.

“It’s great to see them really happy and playing so passionately for the club.”

The No. 1 draft pick had spent a nervous day catching up with a mate, snoozing and watching US jail drama Prison Break.

He’d never played that late before, and had woken up early in anticipation.

But once he got to Etihad Stadium early in the evening, there was calm.

Jobe Watson and Andrew McGrath after the club’s first JLT game. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

It didn’t cross his mind, but the last time he’d played at the ground was in last year’s TAC Cup grand final, where he gathered a handy 38 disposals.

He proved composed for the Bombers in Thursday night’s loss to Collingwood, finding space and using his head, and credited his teammates for their confidence in him no matter his inexperience at the top level.

“Everyone just gave me confidence. (They told me) to play how I play and I’d be fine out there and that my skills would hold up against the players we were playing against out on the ground,” the 18-year-old said.

“And that was true.

“I wasn’t too wound up (once I was out there). I didn’t think too much about the occasion but it was great to have the confidence of the players.

“It did feel pretty comfortable. Having a lot of the older boys around me and giving me confidence ... was just great. They just give you heaps of backing.”

Veteran defender James Kelly has taken McGrath under his wing and has proven a wealthy source of information for the youngster who is thirsty to learn.

“I always talk to him after every drill and every session and take all the advice he gives me,” he said.

“He’s been around for a really long time and he knows all the tricks of the trade. He’s been a great mentor for me.”

Kelly was known as the ringleader when it came to pranks during his time at Geelong.

And while it’s not known whether the former Cat was involved, McGrath — known as “Pigeon” after former Australian cricketer Glenn McGrath — found himself on the end of one in the lead-up to Thursday night’s game.

Andrew McGrath shows his skills in heavy traffic. Picture: AAP Images

His new teammates had previously put bird seed and a feeder in his locker — last week they went to the next level.

“They did happen to put a pigeon in my locker the other day,” he said.

“They put it in the top ... I opened it and I was scared as.

“It was OK though.”

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Jokes aside, McGrath hasn’t set himself a number of how many games he’d like to play this year.

All he knows is he wants to be out there as much as he can.

“We’ve got a pretty strong team now, with all the boys back,” he said.

“I haven’t put too much thought into goals, but I’d love to play.

“I loved being out there and I’d love to be a part of it.”