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Andrew McGrath's family watched on in Canada to see where the draft prospect will land and now he's officially the top pick Canadian media have started to show their interest.
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Andrew McGrath's family watched on in Canada to see where the draft prospect will land and now he's officially the top pick Canadian media have started to show their interest.
But Dragons talent manager Ryan O'Connor sees his club's success in 2016 as part of the natural ebb and flow of draftable talent, rather than any particular magic at Sandringham this year.
O'Connor said it could help young players' development when a good group gelled together well and pushed each other, at his 2016 draftees had done.
But 2015's group had been similarly close and only one of them was chosen in the draft.
Essendon chose young Dragon Andrew McGrath at pick No.1, but the Bombers had made the 18-year-old no promises right up until draft night.
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"We weren't sure right until the name is read out, but once it happened we were just like 'wow'," O'Connor said.
Despite their success, O'Connor said Friday night had been bitter-sweet for the Dragons, with some of their draft hopefuls missing out and now looking to the rookie draft on Monday
Midfielder Hamish Brayshaw was one of them.
The younger brother of Melbourne's Angus, Brayshaw broke his foot this year and continued to play on it, which had had made it difficult to run.
"He's a fantastic young man and a fantastic leader," O'Connor said.
On Saturday Essendon was already heavily promoting McGrath, auctioning off hats that he had signed after getting drafted.
But O'Connor said McGrath was well-equiped to cope with the pressure.
"Once he sets his eyes on something he's highley determined," he said.
O'Connor said the success of the 2016 group had thrown down the gauntlet for 2017.
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