Andrew McGrath

Andrew McGrath was born in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada on June 2, 1998, and later moved to Melbourne, Australia, at the age of five in 2003. His early athletic pursuits included both junior football with the East Brighton Football Club and track and field, where he demonstrated exceptional talent, winning national high jump, heptathlon, and hurdles competitions between 2011 and 2014. McGrath’s focus eventually shifted to Australian rules football, where he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming an All-Australian and co-captain for Vic Metro in the 2016 AFL Under 18 Championships. His performance led to him being recruited by the Essendon Football Club as the first overall selection in the 2016 national draft.

McGrath made his AFL debut with Essendon in the opening round of the 2017 season, showcasing his abilities with 22 disposals. His inaugural season was marked by consistent performance, earning him an AFL Rising Star nomination in round four for a 28-disposal and four-tackle game. He kicked his first AFL goal in round six. A notable achievement in 2017 included effectively limiting star forward Eddie Betts to seven disposals in a match against Adelaide. McGrath’s outstanding first year culminated in winning the Ron Evans Medal as the AFL Rising Star, receiving 51 out of a possible 55 votes, and being named the AFLPA Best First Year Player, along with a spot in the 22under22 team.

Throughout his career, McGrath has consistently demonstrated leadership and adaptability, earning selections to the 22under22 team in 2018, 2019, and as captain in 2020. He transitioned to a full-time midfield role in 2020, also receiving the club’s Adam Ramanauskas Most Courageous Player award. His commitment to the club was further solidified by re-signing until 2022 and later until 2024, and most recently, a six-year extension keeping him with Essendon until at least 2030. McGrath ascended to the role of joint vice-captain in 2021 and continued as vice-captain in 2023, even captaining the team in the 2023 Anzac Day match. He played his hundredth match on May 1, 2022, and was one of only four players to play every game for Essendon in the 2025 AFL season.