Essendon urged not to pass on ‘complete package’ Andy McGrath with No.1 draft pick

ESSENDON has been urged to dismiss any queries regarding Andrew McGrath’s height and make the explosive playmaker its first choice in Friday night’s national draft.

ESSENDON has been urged to dismiss any queries regarding Andrew McGrath’s height and make the explosive playmaker its first choice in Friday night’s national draft.

Hawthorn premiership list chief Chris Pelchen labelled McGrath “the complete package” for his toughness, leadership, pace and instinctive ball winning and said the Sandringham product was the best talent in one of the most even draft classes in years.

At 179cm, McGrath would be the shortest player to be taken with No.1 pick since Melbourne claimed midfielder/defender Alan Johnson with the first choice in the first VFL draft in 1981.

BIG NIGHT: AFL DRAFT 2016 ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

THE CASE FOR: PICKING THE AFL DRAFT TOP 20

TOUGH CHOICE: DRAFT MYSTERY UNDERLINES CLASS DEPTH

PRODUCTION LINE: THE AFL’S BEST TALENT FACTORIES

Pelchen, who has launched the STAR (Sports Talent And Recruiting) Network which will service clubs next season, was adamant McGrath’s height should not be a turn off for the Bombers and said the hard-running and reliable half back would likely flourish into a top-shelf midfielder.

“Essendon need genuine midfielders and, while Andrew has played plenty of footy in the back half, it is his versatility to play in so many positions that makes him the all-round No.1,” Pelchen told the Herald Sun.

“He is combative, a clean user of the footy and most importantly he makes right decisions. He has a real see-ball, get-ball approach, so there is a really dynamic edge to his game.

Vic Metro captain Andy McGrath. Picture: Mark Stewart

“And as he shown in his involvement in school and Vic Metro footy, he is a leader.

“He is certainly on the shorter side of midfielders, but I don’t think it’s as much of a factor as people might think because they have already got Dyson Heppell (189cm) and they have got two youngsters in Kyle Langford (191cm) and Jayden Laverde (190cm), who I think will ultimately play through the midfield as well.”

The AFL has been keen to keep secret the identity of this year’s No.1 pick to help maintain the excitement and mystique in the build up to Friday’s event in Sydney.

Essendon is also strongly considering goalkicking midfielder Hugh McCluggage and tall ballwinner Will Setterfield with its top pick.

After McGrath, Pelchen rated McCluggage, Gold Coast academy product Jack Bowes, GWS academy star Setterfield and, in a surprise, Sandringham tall and creative midfielder Jack Scrimshaw the five best draft prospects in order.

Pelchen said wingman McCluggage may take more time to thrive at AFL level than the ready-to-go McGrath.

Hugh McCluggage in action for Vic Country. Picture: Mark Dadswell

“You could throw a blanket over them, it’s a really tight call,” Pelchen said of this year’s top prospects.

“Hugh looks more athletic than Andrew just because he is taller (186cm).

“He (McCluggage) has outstanding ability, but he is still going to have to develop physically and he will take a little bit longer to play dynamic footy at that level, and we certainly think he will.”

Essendon (No.1 and No.20), Carlton (No.5), North Melbourne (No.11) and reigning premier Western Bulldogs (No.18) are the only Victorian clubs with top-20 selections.

Pelchen said the return of Essendon’s banned players would help them challenge for a top-10 berth in 2017 and play finals the following season.

But the respected list expert said the club would still need to add a quality key forward, key defender and ruckman to help replace departed big men Jake Carlisle, Paddy Ryder and Stewart Crameri and mount a genuine premiership tilt in coming years.

Essendon players in pre-season training. Picture: David Caird

“There is no doubt they will have an obvious spike next season and compete inside the top-10, which is a satisfactory result,” Pelchen said.

“The depth that has been added to their senior list because of the unfortunate circumstances of 2016 will ultimately benefit them, because it has exposed so many youngsters to football sooner than was probably expected .

“With that, I do believe they will play finals the year after (in 2018).

“They do still have weaknesses in that list structure, including another genuine marking forward to support Joe Daniher.”

The STAR Network will provide paying clubs with independent recruiting analysis of the country’s draft prospects, including the futures market. It has joined forces with sports analytics and software provider Genius Tech Group to help identify talent.

Originally published as Essendon urged not to pass on ‘complete package’ Andy McGrath with No.1 draft pick