Adrian Dodoro says young star Andrew McGrath has all the attributes to join the game's elite midfielders.
McGrath, 21, was slated for more midfield time in 2020 after playing the majority of his first three seasons at half-back.
He attended the second-most centre bounces for the Bombers during their unbeaten 2020 Marsh Community Series, starring in the same role in round one with 23 disposals (11 contested) and a game-high eight tackles before the season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dodoro, Essendon's GM of list and recruiting, said McGrath's recent rise was further vindication of his selection as the club's first-ever No.1 pick in 2016 - a year chock full of potential draft duxes.
"There’s no doubt in my mind that he could become an All-Australian midfielder. He’s just a special player and a special person," Dodoro said on Dodcast.
"If we thought he was just going to be a half-back, we probably would have taken Hugh McCluggage (at pick No.1). But we felt that he had the game to become an elite midfielder, and we hold that view.
"If you see his game (in midfield) last year in the final against West Coast where he stood up on the big stage in a very hostile environment, you walk out and at least say, ‘McGrath is going to be a bloody good player for the football club’.
"His pre-season form was outstanding as a midfielder. He adds a defensive element to our midfield, but he can also attack. He’s got the ability to play a number of different roles as a mid – outside, inside. He can run with an opposition player, but he can also offer you attacking, transition running.
"There’s a number of components to his game that we think can stack up long-term to be an elite player for us. That’s not being disparaging to any other boys, because any one of five to six players could have been the No.1 pick, but for our needs and what we wanted, we were more than comfortable to pick Andy at No.1."
Scroll below to listen to Dodcast and for an episode rundown. You can also listen and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.
EPISODE RUNDOWN
0:43 - What made 2016 an enjoyable and fruitful year, despite the Bombers finishing last.
3:40 - Why Essendon wanted to milk the spotlight with pick No.1.
5:40 - The emotional toll the draft took on McGrath, and how he was left guessing when the draft began.
7:05 - What set McGrath apart as the No.1 pick.
11:10 - McGrath's most special on-field trait.
12:50 - McGrath's qualities as a person and why he could leave a similar legacy to what club greats Terry Daniher and Simon Madden left.
16:08 - Dodoro explains how much the draft landscape has changed from 1998 (his first) to 2016.
18:21 - How Essendon's recruiting team is coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.
PREVIOUS EPISODES
The draftee opposition recruiters laughed about
The letter that secured a rookie sensation
Dodcast is brought to you by Orchard HRO, the club's official recruitment and list management partner.
