Toby McGrath
{{short description|Australian rules footballer, born 1980}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Toby McGrath
| image =
| fullname = Toby Jason McGrath
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|10|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = Northam, Western Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = Kent Districts
| draftpick = No. 12, 2000 Rookie Draft, {{AFL WC}}
No. 57, 2002 Rookie Draft, {{AFL Ess}}
| height = 180 cm
| weight = 87 kg
| position = Midfield, half-back flanker
| currentclub = South Fremantle
| guernsey = 39
| statsend = Round 22, 2011
| years1 = 1998–2001; 2004–12
| club1 = South Fremantle
| games_goals1 = 234 (107)
| years2 = 2000–01
| club2 = {{AFL WC}}
| games_goals2 = 0 (0)
| years3 = 2002
| club3 = Essendon (VFL)
| games_goals3 = 12 (0)
| years4 = 2003
| club4 = Bendigo Bombers
| games_goals4 = 15 (?)
| games_goalstotal = 261 (107+)
| sooyears1 = 2000; 2004–05; 2008–10
| sooteam1 = WAFL
| soogames_goals1 = 6 (1)
| careerhighlights = * WAFL representative team 2000, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010
- {{WAFL|SF}} best and fairest 2004, 2008
- Sandover Medal 2005
- South Fremantle premiership side 2005, 2009
- Simpson Medal 2005 (Grand Final)
- WAFL representative team captain 2008, 2009
}}
Toby Jason McGrath (born 11 October 1980) is an Australian rules footballer who played for South Fremantle in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). He was rookie-listed with both the West Coast Eagles and {{AFL Ess}} in the Australian Football League (AFL), but did not play a game for either club.
Early career
McGrath was born in Northam, Western Australia. He has three brothers: Bradley, Cory and Ashley McGrath. Cory and Ashley both played in the AFL, for {{AFL Car}} and the {{AFL BL}} respectively. McGrath played junior football in Katanning before being recruited to South Fremantle in the WAFL, where he made his debut 1998.
AFL career
McGrath had a brief taste of the professional Australian Football League, when he was recruited from South Fremantle to the West Coast Eagles’ rookie list. He was delisted after spending a year on their list without playing a game. He was then given another chance by the Essendon Football Club in 2002 & 2003, where he played with his brother Cory, although again did not manage to make his senior debut.
Later WAFL career
He won the South Fremantle Football Club's Best & Fairest Award in 2004 and in 2005 he won both the Sandover, the WAFL’s prestigious best player award and Simpson Medal for the Best player in the Grand Final and was a member of South Fremantle’s premiership winning side. He represented WA on six occasions in 2000, 2004 and 2005, and was captain of the 2008 WA side that defeated Queensland in Townsville, 2009 and 2010.
In 2008 he was appointed captain of South Fremantle and played his 150th game for the Bulldogs while also winning his second Best & Fairest award.[http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=210&ContentID=66106 Riding The Bumps - McGrath hits 150];2008-04-16 In 2009, he played in his fifth WAFL Grand FinalClarke, Tim (20 September 2009) [http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/losing-a-thing-of-the-past-for-mcgrath-20090918-fvc3.html Losing a thing of the past for McGrath] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922184925/http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/losing-a-thing-of-the-past-for-mcgrath-20090918-fvc3.html |date=22 September 2009 }} and captained South Fremantle to the WAFL premiership, his second after being a member of the 2005 team.Clarke, Tim (20 September 2009) [http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/bulldogs-tame-the-lions-in-style-20090920-fwng.html?page=-1 Bulldogs tame the Lions in style] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311025251/http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/bulldogs-tame-the-lions-in-style-20090920-fwng.html?page=-1 |date=11 March 2012 }} He played his 200th game for South Fremantle in the final round of the 2010 season. In 2011 Toby McGrath was named in South Fremantle’s Indigenous Team of The Century and he in 2012 was included in the WAFL’s Best 25 players of the Last 25 Years. He was inducted into the South Fremantle Hall of Fame in 2022 and is recognised as one of the WAFLs most decorated players.[https://www.watoday.com.au/sport/wa-football/bulldog-mcgraths-200th-wont-be-his-last-hurrah-20100825-13rcb.html Bulldog McGrath’s 200th won’t be his last hurrah]
McGrath is employed as a firefighter with the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia.[http://www.wafootball.com.au/news-archive/346-mcgrath-captains-his-way-to-150 McGrath captains his way to 150] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313172339/http://wafootball.com.au/news-archive/346-mcgrath-captains-his-way-to-150 |date=13 March 2011 }} (16 April 2008) He has three brothers, Cory and Ashley who have both played in the AFL and Bradley. West Coast Eagles premiership player Mark Lecras, Marty McGrath and Dion Woods, who played for Richmond and Fremantle respectively, are all cousins.[http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/player-past.asp?id=1041 Cory McGrath profile at Essendon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012122349/http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/player-past.asp?id=1041 |date=12 October 2009 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{WAFL FootyFacts}}
{{Sandover Medal winners}}
{{Simpson Medal winners}}
{{2003 Indigenous All-Stars squad}}
{{2000 AFL rookie draft}}
{{2003 AFL rookie draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McGrath, Toby}}
Category:Australian rules footballers from Western Australia
Category:Bendigo Football Club players
Category:Indigenous Australian players of Australian rules football
Category:21st-century Indigenous Australian people
Category:Sportspeople from Northam, Western Australia