No.1 AFL draft pick set for more friends

He first turned to Australian rules to win friends and now AFL No.1 draft pick Andrew McGrath stands to win plenty more, as he looks forward to being part of an Essendon revival.

Defender-midfielder McGrath was one of four Sandringham Dragons players drafted in the top seven on Friday night in Sydney.

Forward-midfielder Tim Taranto and midfielder Will Setterfield were taken by GWS with picks two and five respectively and Gold Coast snapped up defender Jack Scrimshaw at No.7.

McGrath had no reservations about joining a club buffeted in recent years by the fallout from the supplements scandal.

“I think it’s exciting more than anything – all of that stuff is behind them,” McGrath said.

“They are working towards the goal that everyone else is working towards and hopefully playing finals next year and winning a premiership in the near future.

“I think more than anything it’s exciting to be part of a comeback, like it is, and be part of a growing team.”

“I went to the club early last week and I’d never been out there beforehand. It’s just amazing – the facilities, the people.”

McGrath said playing in round one was a massive goal.

A national junior 400 metre hurdles title winner, McGrath opted to make Australian rules his sole sporting endeavour when he was in Year 10.

Born in Toronto, Canada, McGrath came to Australia when he was five because of his father’s work.

“I went to primary school – all the kids were playing it. I didn’t really know what was going on,” McGrath said.

“I’d watch it at home on the TV, but it was sort of a coping mechanism to make friends and be liked as a six, seven year-old,” McGrath said.

“I just loved the game and I’ve played it ever since.”

The exploits of Sydney’s Canadian-born premiership-winning ruckman Mike Pyke mean people back in McGrath’s country of birth already have some idea about the alien football code.

“All my family back home knew Mike Pyke and followed him pretty intently and, once I started playing a bit more seriously, they started following me as well,” McGrath said.

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