McGrath was recruited by the Essendon Football Club with the number one draft pick in the 2016 national draft . He made his debut in the 25 point win against in the opening round of the 2017 season at the Melbourne Cricket Ground , recording 22 disposals . He received an AFL Rising Star nomination for his performance in the sixty-five point loss against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval in round four , in which he garnered twenty-eight disposals and four tackles . He kicked his first AFL goal against Melbourne in round 6 . McGrath had another notable performance against Adelaide in round 21 , where he kept star forward Eddie Betts goalless and held him to only seven disposals , his lowest output of the season . He capped off an outstanding first season by winning the AFL Rising Star , receiving the Ron Evans Medal with 51 votes out of a possible 55 , becoming the second Essendon player to win the award , after Dyson Heppell , as well as winning the AFLPA Best First Year Player award , and was named in the 22under22 team
AFL Rising Star
2017 AFL Rising Star
Andrew McGrath