Essendon has finally pulled the trigger on top draft pick Andrew McGrath by adding him to their starting midfield unit in 2020.
He has looked every bit a number one draft pick so far, averaging 23 disposals, eight tackles and five clearances, while his burst and spread from stoppages has caught the eye of Bombers great Tim Watson.
The former Essendon skipper believes McGrath has the speed and power to match the top players in the league.
“I think the penny is just beginning to drop with (McGrath) as to what he can do and you come into this game and you can be intimidated by the talent you see around,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“He started in a different position, but now he’s gone into the midfield. He is as explosive as the top couple per cent of players in the competition.
“He has great agility as well, so I think we’re only just beginning to see what he’s capable of producing.”
McGrath was a key part of Essendon’s narrow win over Sydney on Sunday, while the likes of Zach Merrett, Dylan Shiel and Darcy Parish also factored.
The Bombers have invested heavily in their midfield and Garry Lyon believes it is now starting to bear fruit.
“The Bombers midfield: Zach Merrett was taken at pick 26, Dylan Shiel who cost them pick nine and a future first-round pick, Andrew McGrath who’s pick one and Darcy Parish was pick five,” he said.
“They’re starting to get the return on that investment.
“Andy McGrath into the midfield in Round 1, his pre-season form and his Round 1 form and again on Sunday, he was just superb.”
Watson also praised Parish for putting a dirty afternoon behind him by slotting the winning goal from the boundary line.
“I just want to make this point about Darcy, he had a great last quarter. I think he sat on the bench for a lot of the third quarter, they injected him back into the play in the last quarter and he had 13 touches,” he said.
“He was untidy with a lot of those by foot, but then in that moment when had that shot at goal, it was a beautiful setup from Dylan (Shiel), he had what was probably a kick he was never going to make, given we just watched his field kicking, but under pressure that was a great kick.
“It goes to the heart of somebody who knows they’ve probably messed up a couple of kicks to be able to compose themselves and then execute at that moment. Heads up to him, that was great.”
Essendon returns to the MCG next Sunday, taking on Melbourne.