CONTRARY to popular opinion, there have been stages of Andrew McGrath's debut season when the Essendon backman hasn't been quite as sure of himself as he always seems. Mind you, they've been rare.

The club's first No.1 pick has enjoyed a stellar start to his career, playing his first game in round one and missing only one since (when he was rested in round seven). McGrath's speed, drive and smarts has made him an important member of Essendon's back half and he's impressed all with his calm head under pressure.

But his start in Bombers colours didn't go exactly how he wanted. After arriving at Essendon at the end of November, McGrath set himself to be ready to play in its JLT Community Series games and then targeted a round one debut against Hawthorn.

He played in all three of Essendon's pre-season games, but averaged 10 disposals and didn't have the impact he was hoping for. It left him wondering if he was as close as he thought to playing at the top level, or much further away.

"At the start of the year I wasn't really sure where I fitted in and going into those JLT games I was a bit anxious," McGrath told AFL.com.au.

"Coming in as an early pick you think everyone expects you to play early and play well early and that got to me a bit. I also had my own expectations to try and play as early as possible.

"I didn't really find much form there at all, I was probably just scoping it out and seeing the pace of the game. But having said that I didn't touch the ball too many times, which is probably not what you want in those early games. That probably made the nerves more severe."

They were soothed soon after, however. McGrath was picked to face the Hawks in round one and he had 22 disposals in front of a crowd of nearly 80,000 fans. "That game equipped me with everything I needed to know," he said.

It began a quick rise that has the 19-year-old as one of the leading favourites for the NAB AFL Rising Star award after his round four nomination. And bit by bit, he has found his game coming together. He was reluctant at first to use his pace and run with the ball, taking five or six weeks before he felt comfortable doing that.

Of late he's provided more rebound, and his next step is to kick more than he handballs, having been encouraged by the club's coaches to become a "metres gained player" and take the ball further forward. His capacity to make the difficult look simple has turned heads given his inexperience.

"I think that's just how it appears. I am panicking at times, but it is nice to look calm and composed when you're out there. Early days I was definitely really panicky, but now when I get the ball I'm a lot more calm, I can process my thoughts easier and just having a few games under my belt really helps," he said.

On McGrath's first day at the club, assistant coach Mark Harvey told the Sandringham Dragons product he didn't care about where in the draft he was picked and that all newcomers to the club started equal. Since then he hasn't found any of the extra attention that comes with being the first player drafted overwhelming.

Instead he's embraced it. He took on the available No.1 guernsey, he's comfortable and personable in the media, and is known around the club for keeping relatively quiet as he works on his game.

"A lot of people say it adds extra pressure being the No.1 pick and it probably does. But for me it's an honour more than anything. I'd rather be the No.1 pick than any other pick. Yes, it does come with some responsibility but it's something that keeps you honest and makes you work hard every day," he said.

McGrath shot into contention for the top rungs of the draft with his performances at last year's under-18 national carnival.

The dashing defender then showed his midfield prowess for the Dragons, and became locked in a battle for the No.1 spot with Hugh McCluggage (the Brisbane Lions took him at No.3). The Bombers also showed an interest in Will Setterfield.

McGrath was understated about it at the time, but acknowledges now he was always keen to be chosen first.

"I didn't say it too many times but I did want to be the No.1 pick. Behind closed doors I'd tell the my friends, close family and my girlfriend that I did want to go pick one and that I'd work as hard as I could to do that," he said.

"I don't know what it is – I'm pretty competitive naturally so I think that's where it came from when it was me, Hugh and probably Will jostling for it. I really tried hard to push my case.

"Knowing that a huge club like Essendon had it, and coming off the year they'd had moving into 2017, that was exciting for me and I thought I could be part of something special. That made it easy for me to push for No.1."

McGrath is not himself if he's not working towards something and his preference in future seasons is to move into the midfield.

Despite the occasional ribbing (Brendon Goddard nicknamed him 'Pigeon' after picking McGrath up for his first day at the club and bird seed has been sprinkled around his locker from time to time), teammates quickly warmed to McGrath and have been impressed with his attitude since joining the Bombers.

Essendon is hunting a return to the finals and McGrath wants to be there with them.

"It would be huge for not only me but as a club as well. We've been through such a lot as a club and you can tell the boys are really keen to play finals, and to play finals in my first year would be amazing. We've got the group to go pretty deep into finals, and if we get that chance I think we'll take it with both hands," he said.