Essendon picked Canadian-born defender Andrew McGrath with the first selection of the 2016 AFL Draft on Friday evening.

Desperate to rebuild after a season from hell, the Bombers picked the running half-back from the Sandringham Dragons ahead of Tim Taranto (GWS) and Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane Lions).

McGrath starred in the TAC Cup Under-18 competition in 2016, averaging 32 disposals and seven matches per match. He has been likened to Jason Johannisen of the Western Bulldogs, who won the Norm Smith Medal for best afield in the club’s 2016 AFL grand final win.

McGrath could have easily enjoyed a career in athletics, though, with the new Bomber a star of the track from a young age, according to the AFL.

The peak of his athletics career came when he won the under-17 national 200m hurdles race, but he also won national events for high jump and state events in the heptathlon.

He told FoxSports in an interview earlier this month his family “speak in our Canadian accents at home”, even though he moved to Australia when he was five, and added on Friday that joining the Bombers was “surreal”.

“It’s awesome. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I can’t wait to get started,” McGrath said.

The Giants sprung somewhat of a surprise when selecting Taranto at pick 2, clearly impressed by the midfielder’s big-game ability.

Taranto won 30 disposals in Sandringham’s U18 TAC Cup grand final victory this year and had 23 touches and kicked four goals a week earlier.

Hugh McCluggage, long touted as a possible No.1 pick, slipped to three as a result and was quickly snapped up by the Lions.

The Brisbane Lions pounced on midfielder McCluggage. Photo: Getty

Gold Coast entered the draft at four, taking small forward Ben Ainsworth, before Carlton’s attempt to take Will Setterfield at five was denied by Greater Western Sydney, who matched the bid on their academy player.

The Blues ended with Sam Petrevski-Seton at six as a result, with the Suns’ capture of Jack Scrimshaw, Will Brodie and Jack Bowes sandwiched by Fremantle’s move for Griffin Logue at pick 8.

Outside the top 10

St Kilda drafted Ben Long – nephew of Essendon great Michael Long – at pick 25 and there were plenty more famous names on the draft board.

Collingwood took father-son nomination Callum Brown – whose father Gavin was a Magpies legend – at pick 35 and then took Josh Daicos, son of 1980s star Peter, at 57.

It's real.
And it #startsnow pic.twitter.com/CSAaG4vkmu

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) November 25, 2016

Greater Western Sydney picked up delisted Fremantle midfielder Matthew de Boer at pick 58.

And while Hawthorn’s first pick was not until 74, they raised eyebrows with the selection of forward Mitchell Lewis at pick 76.

The Hawks, of course, traded out legends Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis in the trade period.

West Coast rounded out the draft at pick 77 with father-son selection Jake Waterman.

Full club-by-club selections

Adelaide: Jordan Gallucci (pick 15), Myles Poholke (43), Elliot Himmelberg (51), Matthew Signorello (62), Ben Davis (75)

Brisbane Lions: Hugh McCluggage (3), Jarrod Berry (17), Alex Witherden (23), Cedric Cox (24), Jacob Allison (55), Corey Lyons (71)

Carlton: Sam Petrevski-Seton (6), Zac Fisher (27), Harrison Macreadie (47), Cameron Polson (59), Tom Williamson (61), Pat Kerr (65)

Collingwood: Sam McLarty (30), Callum Brown (35), Kayle Kirby (50), Josh Daicos (57)

Essendon: Andrew McGrath (1), Jordan Ridley (22), Joshua Begley (31), Kobe Mutch (42), Dylan Clarke (63)

Fremantle: Griffin Logue (8), Sean Darcy (38), Brennan Cox (41), Luke Ryan (66)

Geelong: Brandan Parfitt (26), Thomas Stewart (40), Esava Ratugolea (43), Quinton Narkle (60), Timm House (68), Ryan Abbott (69)

Gold Coast: Ben Ainsworth (4), Jack Scrimshaw (7), Will Brodie (9), Jack Bowes (10), Brad Scheer (67)

Greater Western Sydney: Tim Taranto (2), Will Setterfield (5), Harry Perryman (14), Isaac Cumming (20), Lachlan Tiziani (54), Matthew de Boer (58)

Hawthorn: Harry Morrison (74), Mitchell Lewis (76)

Melbourne: Mitchell Hannan (46), Dion Johnstone (64)

North Melbourne: Jy Simpkin (12), Declan Watson (34), Josh Williams (36), Nick Larkey (73)

Port Adelaide: Todd Marshall (16), Sam Powell-Pepper (18), Joe Atley (32), Willem Drew (33)

Richmond: Shai Bolton (29), Jack Graham (53), Ryan Garthwaite (72)

St Kilda: Ben Long (25), Josh Battle (39), Edward Phillips (56)

Sydney: Oliver Florent (11), Will Hayward (21), Jack Maibaum (45), Darcy Cameron (48)

West Coast: Daniel Venables (13), Josh Rotham (37), Willie Rioli (52), Jake Waterman (77)

Western Bulldogs: Tim English (19), Patrick Lipinski (28), Lewis Young (49), Fergus Greene (70)