THE CANADIAN BOMBER

With his signature last week on a fresh six-year deal, Andrew McGrath will be a Bomber for life.

The club’s sole #1 draft pick from 2016 will now be wearing the red sash until 2030. It’ll be a long career and hopefully, one filled with more silverware than he’s seen so far. This latest long-term contract is just one of many that has seen a good portion of this current Dons side commit to the club for years to come. Kyle Langford, Darcy Parish, Mason Redman, Nic Martin and captain Zach Merrett have all been locked in for pretty much the remainder of their AFL careers. Each one integral to what Essendon is hoping to achieve in the coming years – a 17th premiership.

Their commitment is important as it signals a cultural shift at the club that fans have been crying out for. Money is always a factor but it’s unlikely that these re-signings couldn’t have gotten similar money at other clubs. Their collective commitment to Tullamarine says they believe something good is coming for this club – they believe they can achieve success in the red and black.

Now, whether this becomes reality or not is speculation at its finest. For now, we can only hope and pray (to whatever deity you desire – the more the merrier) that success isn’t too far away.

But in light of McGrath’s latest deal, it seems appropriate to look back a little and reflect on what kind of player, and potentially more importantly, what kind of leader ol’ Pidge has become at Essendon. Because it’s not overstating it in the slightest to say that no player has walked through the doors at Tullamarine with more expectation on their shoulders, than Andy McGrath.

In years to come, the next generation of Bombers fans will have little understanding of how truly hard the 2013-16 era was for the fans who lived through it. Arguably the hardest of those years was the final one, where after the banning of 34 past and present Essendon players, the club played out the 2016 season with a mixture of top ups, retirees and rookies for a year filled with massive losses, and a lowly three wins.

But it did have its positives.

We got a good look at a baby-faced Darcy Parish, revelled in the VFL then AFL cult hero, Anthony McDonald- Tipungwuti and surprised the footy world by beating Carlton to round out the season. The latter was a particular highlight. But to finish the season truly, the Essendon Football Club collected its first #1 AFL draft pick. From the Sandringham Dragons, the Canadian-born Andrew McGrath. But it wasn’t necessarily an easy decision for the club.

McGrath on Draft Night, 2016 with then-coach John Worsfold.

Hugh McCluggage and Tim Taranto could just as easily have gone number one. But after selecting McGrath, recruitment staff stated that it was his leadership abilities that was the deciding factor in his selection. Over the past few years, it’s sometimes been hard to accept Adrian Dodoro and co’s decision. McCluggage has been a powerful piece of the Brisbane Lions outfit. High-impact and damaging around goals in a side that has consistently challenged at the pointy end of the season. Tim Taranto has been a little easier to absorb in recent times, despite his quality at the GWS Giants, Taranto has been hampered by a rebuilding Richmond outfit and injury. But his value is still considerably high – his seven year contract confirms that fact.

The pair, who went number two and three at the 2016 AFL Draft, have risen through the AFL ranks for the most part, smoothly. Both have enjoyed plenty of success in finals footy, the kind we Bombers fans could only dream of. But despite an impressive and award-winning rookie year, McGrath’s path has been uneven to say the least. Over the last few years, it has become painfully evident the club has been nothing short of a basket case behind closed doors.

From chaotic coaching moves, distrust, and from all reports a non-existent development department, it has not been easy for young players to find their best football at Essendon. On top of all this and with hindsight being nice and clear, it’s easy to point the finger for many of McGrath’s unbalanced performances over his career on that ill-fated move to the midfield. McGrath has always felt at home behind the ball, and his time in the midfield never quite seemed to fit. Despite some strong disposal heavy games, McGrath’s performances in the engine room were often scarred by rushed decision-making and a lack of defensive impact. The latter was especially evident in a midfield, which up until this season, was crying out for that defensive player so badly.

But with his return to the backline in recent times, McGrath is starting to look like the player many fans expected him to be, and 2024 is quickly becoming his most impressive season to date.

McGrath was electric on ANZAC Day this year, with an almost-BOG performance.

In metres gained, McGrath has averaged 293.2 in his career – in 2024, he’s averaged 452.6. Tackles are up 3.1 this season compared to his career average 2.9. McGrath is also accumulating disposals higher than he has across his career, a little over 25 touches compared to his career average of 21.5. And they’re good touches, too. His efficiency is up considerably. Just over the weekend against the Eagles, McGrath had 23 disposals at 91%. On ANZAC Day, he had 31 at 81%. Against Adelaide it was 20 at 80% and in arguably the club’s best performance this season against the Bulldogs, McGrath had 23 disposals at 83%.

These are good numbers and even better use.

But on top of all this, McGrath is providing something else, far less tangible. The key aspect about his character that made Dodoro choose him over the rest. Leadership. Across the backline, the Bombers’ vice-captain looks more like a general, and more importantly appears well-likely and respected by his team. It’s the one aspect of his game that is unquestionable. Andy McGrath is a true leader.

Zach Merrett is becoming one of the club’s most important players of the 21st century, and potentially, one of the most important captains. But it wasn’t natural. He would be the first to admit that he has had to work tirelessly to hone his craft as a leader of this group of men. McGrath never appeared to suffer that problem. Leadership seems to come to him like a duck to water. His future as the next captain of the club, sometime over the next six years, seems like an almost certainty. A formality.

And we’re lucky as fans to have him.

After some unsteady times, from questions about his worth, his position, his desire and even his skills as a whole, Andy McGrath is now showing glimpses of why he went number one eight years ago.

And I for one, can’t wait to see what the kid from Mississauga, Ontario can do in the next six!

Go Planes.