Essendon number one pick McGrath $10 for Rising Star at Sportsbet

ESSENDON’S number one draft selection Andrew McGrath will enter the 2017 season as the best-rated chance to win the 2017 Rising Star award from this year’s draft crop at Sportsbet.com.au.

The highly-coveted recruit is a $10 chance to be crowned the best youngster in the country next year, just behind new teammate Aaron Francis ($5) and prodigious Giant Jacob Hopper ($8).

There was mystery around who the Bombers would take at pick number one, given both McGrath and Eastern Ranger Hugh McCluggage both had legitimate claims to be taken at the opening selection, but Essendon took the player they deemed to be “better suited to the modern game”.

McCluggage was taken at pick three by the Lions and is a $12 chance to win the Rising Star in 2017.

Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro believes McGrath has the attributes to debut and make an impact from round one.

“He’s an athlete with elite movement,” Dodoro said.

“He has the constitution to walk in and play AFL football next year, he can play midfield, he’s got a defensive mindset and he’s just a brilliant prototype for the modern game.

“He speeds the game up, he’s got elite speed and he suits the modern game.”

Another name that was taken towards the top end of the draft who is expected to make an immediate impact at AFL level is small forward Ben Ainsworth.

The explosive goal kicker was taken at pick four by the Gold Coast and is on the fifth line of betting ($14) for the Rising Star at Sportsbet.com.au.

One AFL recruiter was so bullish on Ainsworth’s ability that they said he “could already have been on an AFL list and playing top-level footy, despite his age.

AFL Rising Star 2017

Market provided by Sportsbet.com.au

Aaron Francis (Ess) $5
Jacob Hopper (GWS) $8
Andrew McGrath (Ess) $10
Hugh McCluggage (Bris) $12
Will Setterfield (GWS) $14
Ben Ainsworth (GCS) $14
Will Brodie (GCS) $15
Ryan Clarke (NM) $15
Jack Bowes (GCS) $17
Sam Petrevski-Seton (Carl) $17
Tim Taranto (GWS) $17
Harry Perryman (GWS) $21
Griffin Logue (Freo) $21
Brayden Fiorini (GCS) $21
Jack Scrimshaw (GCS) $26
Tim English (WB) $26
Jarrod Berry (Bris) $34
Oliver Florent (Syd) $34
Jordan Gallucci (Ade) $34
Daniel Venables (WCE) $34
Alex Witherden (Bris) $34
Jack Silvagni (Carl) $34
Wayne Milera (Ade) $34
Todd Marshall (Port) $34
Ryan Burton (Haw) $34
William Drew (Port) $41