Out-of-contract Essendon star Andy McGrath keen to sign new deal

Bomber Andy McGrath has made it clear where he stands as contract talks continue as the in-form defender lifts the lid on playing on Bobby Hill.

In-form Bomber Andy McGrath is “really excited to get a deal done” and stay with Essendon as he relishes the chance to take down the big guns each week.

The Essendon vice-captain is out of contract at the end of this season, with this masthead reporting this month he is closing in on a six-year deal.

Andy McGrath weighs up a handball. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

McGrath, 25, has enjoyed a super start to the year and is averaging a career-best 25.4 disposals per game, marking him as likely Essendon’s most important signature this year.

“I haven’t really thought about it too much to be honest,” he told this masthead.

“I am super happy where I am at the moment and really excited to get a deal done at some point. I have sort of left that with my management and the club to sort out behind the scenes.

“I want to focus and put my energy into footy and when the conversation comes about I am all ears and ready to do what we need to do but right now I am focused on the game.”

McGrath and Hill had an enthralling duel. Picture: Michael Klein

McGrath drew seven votes in the Anzac Day medal for his 31 disposal game, which was enough for Geelong great Cameron Ling to declare him the best player on field.

He went at 81 per cent disposal efficiency with those disposals, gained 442 metres and racked up 10 interception, all while manning Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill.

Hill spent 69 minutes of the Anzac Day draw on McGrath and in that time only collected eight disposals and didn’t kick a goal.

McGrath stayed right in Bobby Hill’s back pocket. Picture: Michael Klein

McGrath relished the encounter.

“I like playing on Bobby, we have a bit of conversation,” he said.

“You get yourself up for those big match ups. He is a quality player and a quality person. I guess as a defender you want a big match up, you want to have an impact on the game.

“He probably let me off the hook on a couple, he missed a couple of set shots (Hill finished with three behinds) but overall that was my role for the team and I was happy to do that.”

Having struggled to move on from the weekend quickly enough to prepare for the next game in the past, McGrath put his uptick in form down to moving on.

That was how he planning to get past Thursday’s scintillating draw.

“You can sit on a performance for too long at times and not get on with it,” he said.

“I think I have gotten better now at the process and getting back to work and improving my game.”

The Bombers will face three of the bottom five sides on the ladder in May, opening up a golden chance to bed down a top-eight spot, but the running defender said he wasn’t certain where his team was at.

“To be honest I am not too sure where we sit and I think that is a good thing,” he said.

“We want to keep going and doing what we do and see where that lands us at the end of the season.”

Originally published as Out-of-contract Essendon star Andy McGrath keen to sign new deal