Essendon champion Scott Lucas says Andrew McGrath will be hard to overlook when the votes are cast in the AFL's Rising Star award.

The number one draft pick produced another impressive display against Adelaide, keeping star forward Eddie Betts to just one point from his seven disposals.

McGrath collected 25 possessions of his own, took eight marks and had five rebounds from the defensive 50.

The 19 year old’s efforts were all the more impressive given the Crows recorded 62 inside 50s.

“It was a super performance by him,” Lucas said.

“I thought the way he was able to control Eddie and the space and close down those options was just super … but then (also) his run and rebound.

“Not only is he playing on such a dangerous player but he’s prepared to take off and join in the offence.

“It just did re-affirm what a year he’s had.

“To play on Eddie Betts and play like that with the 60 odd entries is superb but he also gave a lot of drive out of the backline.”

McGrath has played 18 games this season and is averaging 19 disposals per match.

“It’s really hard to go past the output of Andy McGrath and if you delve a bit deeper and look at who his direct match-ups have been, he’s played on some of the best small forwards in the competition and been rarely beaten – not only that he’s won a lot of the football," Lucas said.

“He’s had an excellent year though perhaps slightly underestimated how good he has been, certainly in the context of the Rising Star.

“He’d be very difficult to beat in that award such is the year he’s had.”