To shift from South Fremantle to Essendon is a big change in lifestyle. It's even bigger when you are a 20-year-old footballer and nothing is guaranteed to come of the move. Cory McGrath was made a rookie at Essendon Football Club at the start of season 2000. It was a foot in the door for the boy from South Fremantle and an opportunity he knew he had to make the most of or face the return journey to W.A. Cory did grab his chance and was selected to play for the Bombers during the Ansett Cup competition. Onlookers liked what they saw and Cory continued to impress during the VFL season.

Cory's impressive first season saw the club promote him to the senior list and he now has the chance to push for senior selection. After eight rounds that chance still has presented itself but he continues to push his name in front of selectors. Last weekend against Sandringham McGrath collected 36 posessions in a superb performance. He had 22 possessions against Coburg and North Ballarat and 33 against Williamstown. He is averaging just over 25 possessions per game. He has also contributed in front of goals - something quality midfielders must be able to do.

“He has strung some good games together which is very pleasing,”Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said. “He needed to find that consistency and while he maintains that he will keep coming up at the selection table.” McGrath has played most of this season in the mid-field and with the Bombers running brigade hit by injuries at the moment, McGrath’s chance might be just around the corner. Joe Misiti, Mark Mercuri and Michael Long are all sidelined at the moment while Blake Caracella is in doubt for this weekend’s match.

“He played well for us during the Ansett Cup the last two seasons so he has shown he is up to playing senior football.,” Drain said. “He is very fit and runs hard all day and has been finding a lot of the football.”

While everything points towards McGrath’s rise to senior ranks being just around the corner, he knows he just has to be patient. “I’d like to think I’m getting close but I can’t let that occupy my thoughts. I’ll just keep working hard in the VFL side and if the opportunity comes my way then I have to make sure I grab it,” McGrath said. “I just have to be patient – if I get frustrated my form might drop in the VFL side and that will only set me back.”

“I worked on my speed and endurance during the pre-season. They were probably the two areas I had to work at most. I played a bit on the half back flank last season but was keen to move into the mid-field. I had to get fitter and faster if I was going to do that,” McGrath said. “I kicked four goals in one of the games this season and that is something I am working on. Sheeds has spoken to me and said that is something I must do.”