Essendon’s top draft pick Andrew McGrath has been impressed by the intensity displayed by his teammates in the opening weeks of his AFL career.
McGrath was whisked away to a pre-season camp on his first day at the Club where he said he was able to gain a closer insight into his more senior teammates.
“It was a big turnaround from the celebrations of draft night and that weekend and then you’re straight into an army base,” he said.
“The boys around you get you through it, you see how hard they work and you just want to be like them.
“That really drives the younger boys to pursue what the older boys are.”
The playing list was split into four groups with McGrath working alongside players including Zach Merrett and Dyson Heppell.
“You see how hard they work and how hard they push themselves, it’s really eye opening and no wonder they’re such good players,” McGrath said.
“They push themselves to the absolute limit and bring everyone else with them.”
With the JLT Community Series fixture released today, the Bombers now have two blockbuster openings to their season.
The pre-season kicks off against Collingwood and the home and away season gets underway against Hawthorn.
McGrath, who is training with the defensive group, would be happy with a start in either match but is aware there is work to be done.
“You feel like a pretty little kid in a big pond, coming from being the top of a smaller pond,” he said.
“I haven’t really trained too much yet ... but I’m just trying to do everything right at the moment, get my body as strong as I can before the start of next season and get my fitness base up as well.
“If that means playing round one, or playing in three years time – I’m happy to wait my time and wait for my chance to make an impact.”
McGrath has participated in a handful of footy sessions so far, but he and his fellow draftees training loads are being closely monitored.
“It’s a little frustrating early because they pull back the younger boys but it’s really intense,” he said.
“Everything the Essendon boys do up to standard, they work hard in everything so it has been a massive step up in the training intensity.
“But I think it brings out the best in everyone and it’s a really good environment.”
