Toby McGrath
Encyclopedia
Toby Jason McGrath is an Australian rules football
er, currently playing for South Fremantle
in the West Australian Football League
(WAFL). He was rookie-list
ed with both the West Coast Eagles
and in the Australian Football League
(AFL), but did not play a game for either club.
, Western Australia
. He has three brothers: Bradley, Cory
and Ashley McGrath
. Cory and Ashley both played in the AFL, for and the respectively. McGrath played junior football in Katanning before being recruited to South Fremantle
in the WAFL, where he made his debut in 1994.
, 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.
, 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 has represented WA on 6 occasions, 2000, 2004, 2005, was Captain of the 2008 WA side that defeated QLD 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.
In 2009 he played in his fifth WAFL Grand Final and captained South Fremantle to the WAFL premiership, his second after being a member of the 2005 team. He played his 200th game for South Fremantle in the final round of the 2010 season.
McGrath is employed as a fireman with the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia
. He has three brothers, Cory and Ashley
who have both played in the AFL and Bradley. Marty McGrath and Dion Woods
, who played for Richmond and Fremantle respectively, are both cousins.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er, currently playing for South Fremantle
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
in the West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WAFL). He was rookie-list
Rookie list
The Rookie List is a means for Australian Football League clubs to maintain additional players outside of the 38-man primary or senior list. Rookie listed players are not eligibile to play in AFL home and away or finals matches unless they are elevated to the senior list, either to replace a...
ed with both the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
and in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL), but did not play a game for either club.
Early career
McGrath was born in NorthamNortham, Western Australia
Northam is a town in Western Australia, situated at the confluence of the Avon and Mortlock Rivers, about north-east of Perth in the Avon Valley. At the 2006 census, Northam had a population of 6,009. Northam is the largest town in the Avon region...
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. He has three brothers: Bradley, Cory
Cory McGrath
Cory McGrath is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played with the Carlton and Essendon Football Clubs in the Australian Football League , South Fremantle in the West Australian Football League , South Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League and the Northern...
and Ashley McGrath
Ashley McGrath
Ashley Vernon McGrath is an indigenous Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.Selected in the 2000 AFL Draft with the thirteenth pick overall, the Brisbane Lions recruited the talented forward, where he made his AFL debut late in 2001...
. Cory and Ashley both played in the AFL, for and the respectively. McGrath played junior football in Katanning before being recruited to South Fremantle
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
in the WAFL, where he made his debut in 1994.
AFL career
McGrath had a brief taste of the professional Australian Football LeagueAustralian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, when he was recruited from South Fremantle
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
to the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
' rookie list
Rookie list
The Rookie List is a means for Australian Football League clubs to maintain additional players outside of the 38-man primary or senior list. Rookie listed players are not eligibile to play in AFL home and away or finals matches unless they are elevated to the senior list, either to replace a...
. 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
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in 2002 & 2003, where he played with his brother Cory
Cory McGrath
Cory McGrath is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played with the Carlton and Essendon Football Clubs in the Australian Football League , South Fremantle in the West Australian Football League , South Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League and the Northern...
, although again did not manage to make his senior debut.
WAFL
He won the South Fremantle Football Club's Best & Fairest Award in 2004 and in 2005 he won both the SandoverSandover Medal
The Sandover Medal is an Australian rules football award, given annually since 1921 to the fairest and best player in the West Australian Football League...
, the WAFL's prestigious best player award and Simpson Medal
Simpson Medal
The Simpson Medal, a prize for Australian rules football, has been donated by Dr. Fred Simpson and family since 1945. It is awarded to the best player in a WAFL Grand Final and the best player in an interstate game involving Western Australia....
for the Best player in the Grand Final and was a member of South Fremantle's premiership winning side.
He has represented WA on 6 occasions, 2000, 2004, 2005, was Captain of the 2008 WA side that defeated QLD 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.
In 2009 he played in his fifth WAFL Grand Final and captained South Fremantle to the WAFL premiership, his second after being a member of the 2005 team. He played his 200th game for South Fremantle in the final round of the 2010 season.
McGrath is employed as a fireman with the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia
Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia
The Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia is a statutory government authority created in January 1999 to administer the following legislation within the state of Western Australia:...
. He has three brothers, Cory and Ashley
Ashley McGrath
Ashley Vernon McGrath is an indigenous Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.Selected in the 2000 AFL Draft with the thirteenth pick overall, the Brisbane Lions recruited the talented forward, where he made his AFL debut late in 2001...
who have both played in the AFL and Bradley. Marty McGrath and Dion Woods
Dion Woods
Dion Woods is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle in the Australian Football League between 2001 and 2005....
, who played for Richmond and Fremantle respectively, are both cousins.