Essendon Coach John Worsfold says Andrew McGrath will welcome the challenge of playing on one of Hawthorn’s accomplished small forwards.

The number one draft pick was named to play his first game in the round one blockbuster at the MCG on Saturday night.

McGrath played in defence throughout the JLT Community Series and is likely to oppose one of the Hawks cast of small forwards that includes Cyril Rioli, Luke Breust and Paul Puopolo.

“If you want to be an AFL player don’t put your hand up and say ‘can you find someone that’s easy to play on?’” Essendon Coach John Worsfold said.

“I don’t think Andy McGrath will ever ask that question.

“It’s a great opportunity for him.

“It’s just a taste for him, it’s just a start and he’s going to continue to get better and become the player we know he’s going to be.”

The match is expected to draw more than 80,000 people but Worsfold said McGrath has the temperament to handle the situation.

“There is some risk, but there is [also] massive benefit for a young kid to be involved in a game like this with it meaning so much to some of the great players of the Essendon Football Club,” he said.

“We think that upside is huge.

“We were weighing up how much work he’s done, his age and how much he can add to the team.

“In the end we felt he was the right person to come into the side and play that role for us.

“We know he’s talented, we know he’s going to be a great player for the Essendon Football Club for a long period of time.

“We believed he was ready and he’s good enough to be in."