AFL 2024: Andrew McGrath re-signs at Essendon for six more years

Essendon have locked down a key piece of their future in Andrew McGrath, and the star half-back says the challenge of ending Essendon’s premiership drought enticed him to put pen to paper.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 30: Andrew McGrath of the Bombers high fives fans after winning the round three AFL match between Essendon Bombers and St Kilda Saints at Marvel Stadium, on March 30, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Essendon vice-captain Andrew McGrath has revealed the challenge to potentially unlock the club’s long premiership drought one day alongside some of his best mates was a key driver in his decision to spurn free agency and lock into the Bombers for six more years.

In a massive show of faith to the club’s future direction, the 25-year-old has recommitted to the Bombers until the end of the 2030 season, rejecting the interest of rival clubs.

“I am super excited,” McGrath told this masthead. “I believe wholeheartedly in the direction that the club is heading.

“I love the playing group, I love the coaches, it was a pretty easy decision in the end, so I am happy to put pen to paper pretty early in the year.”

McGrath says he always wanted to be one-club player and his decision means the Bombers have now secured their most significant senior players – including skipper Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish, Mason Redman, Peter Wright, Sam Durham, Jordan Ridley, Nic Martin and Ben McKay – until at least the end of 2027.

Andrew McGrath has committed to the Bombers. Pic: Michael Klein

“Loyalty, as a trait, is a really important one of mine, and I think as a playing group, especially the core group of players around my age, guys like Darcy, ‘Rids’, Zach and Benny McKay, we all want to stick together and we all want to succeed together,” he said.

“We are determined every day to come in and leave a little bit better, and having us all around for a relatively long period of time is an exciting base to build from.

“Hopefully, we can guide as best we can that young group of players and see them become superstars of their game and help us inevitably win.”

Asked what it would mean to potentially be a part of the squad that won the Bombers’ first flag since 2000, McGrath said: “It would mean everything.”

“When you come into the league, you want to find your feet, you want to fit in and play as quickly as you can,” he said. “But that focus quickly shifts to ‘how can we win as a team?’.

“You watch the teams play in September, you watch the great teams and you are jealous of them year after year. We are striving as hard as we can and putting things in place to hopefully become one of those teams one day.

“Ultimately, that is the goal … that’s why we work so hard every day. We want that ultimate success, to become a great team. We are still a fair way off that, but we want to do everything in our power to make that a possibility.”

The Bombers have now locked away many key pieces. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

McGrath has provided a strong leadership role in recent seasons, acting as a deputy to Merrett, and is considered a cultural driver within the club.

The 2016 No. 1 draft selection has played 141 games with the Bombers and has found a perfect niche in the back half in recent seasons.

The Bombers tabled the six-year offer to the defender early last month amid strong interest from rival clubs.

But his confidence that the Bombers are on the right track under new coach Brad Scott meant he was always eager to stay.

“I knew I wanted to be in the red and black; it was a matter of making that a reality,” he said.

“I was super confident in the direction of our playing group and love my fellow players. They are the ones who I guess made this decision easier.

“I have lifelong friends in the playing group, best friends who are all committed to the same cause. There was never any thought in my mind to go elsewhere.”

He said Scott had been “an amazing beacon for us”.

“He has empowered all of us as players to be the best version of ourselves,” he said. “I have absolutely loved my time so far under him and have great confidence that he can bring out the best in us.

“We are a work in progress, but we are all eager to get better.”

SWANS LOCK DOWN YOUNG GUN

– Matthew Forrest

Sydney has locked down another key piece of its premiership tilt, signing defender Ollie Florent to a five-year extension.

The 25 year old’s contract extension will take him out of the free agency pool at the end of the season, with the deal expiring at the end of 2029.

Florent was an unrestricted free agent, meaning the Swans would not be able to match a rival bid on the rebounding defender, however he pledged his loyalty to the harbour city ahead of the Sydney Derby on Saturday.

Ollie Florent will remain a Swan. Photo by Phil Hillyard

“Being here for the next five years, that’s something that’s really special to me and my family,” he said after signing the extension.

“I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to be at this footy club. It’s a great bunch of boys, great coaching staff and just a beautiful place to be.

“Ultimately, I want to win a premiership … I want to be playing, be healthy, play my role, doing the team stuff and getting the wins on the board.”

Florent joins a strong core of players that have committed long-term to the Swans, with Brodie Grundy (2027), Hayden McLean (2027), Tom McCartin (2027), Errol Gulden (2028), Isaac Heeney (2028), James Rowbottom (2028), Tom Papley (2028), Callum Mills (2029), and Nick Blakey (2031) all signed beyond the next three years.

Spearhead forward Logan McDonald shapes as the next key signature to secure for the Swans, with the Western Australian set to come out of contract at the end of the season, along with unrestricted free agent Will Hayward.

Originally published as AFL 2024: Andrew McGrath re-signs at Essendon for six more years