On the other end of the line was Ray Byrne, the Bendigo Pioneers' regional manager, telling McGrath he was invited to October's national NAB AFL Draft Combine.
Despite a run of injuries which has cut down his draft year, at least a handful of clubs, and maybe more, wanted to see McGrath test and perform in front of recruiters. He is one of 96 players invited to Etihad Stadium for the four-day trial, but for McGrath, it carries deeper meaning.
"I was feeling pretty down, and through all the rehab there's definitely been that thought that I've fallen back and everyone's forgotten about me," McGrath told AFL.com.au.
"That's probably been one of the hardest things, not being able to show what I can do this year. Getting the invitation to show there's still clubs looking at me has really boosted my confidence back up."
After knee and wrist injuries interrupted his bottom-aged year in 2013, McGrath entered this season hopeful he'd be able to move into the midfield, use his pace and endurance, and end the year on an AFL list.
But after a promising start, including a strong game for the AIS-AFL Academy against Collingwood's VFL side in April, things haven't fallen McGrath's way.
In his first game back for the Pioneers after the Academy's Europe trip, McGrath injured his wrist (the same one as last year) and missed almost a month.
On his return from that, he developed patella tendinitis, which ruled him out of Vic Country's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
A couple of months of rehabilitation later, he returned to play for the Pioneers, and got through against the Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup.
The next week, at the start of July, he pulled a hamstring, meaning another cautious five- to six-week stint on the sidelines. He should be back for the final two games of the Pioneers' season.
"It's been shocking," he said. "It's just been one thing after another. I haven't been able to get consistent games of footy together and put my best foot forward."
To keep positive, he thinks back to what he has done. The game at the MCG against the Magpies was impressive, particularly as one of few Academy prospects to play his own game, one of few to take things on against bigger, older opponents.
It wasn't the first time McGrath has played out of his weight division. As a 15-year-old in 2011, he made his debut for Kerang in Victoria's Central Murray Football League.
Playing against lowly opposition, Kerang thought it would ease McGrath into senior action, but he kicked two goals with his first two touches, held his spot and played in the Grand Final at the end of the year – the first of three consecutive Grand Final appearances for the teenager.
There have been other learning experiences along the way for McGrath, who moved from Kerang to Bendigo at the start of last year to complete his final two years of school Bendigo Senior Secondary College this season.
To allow him more time to focus on footy and study, McGrath, with another Pioneers player, moved in with a host family.
It was the first time the family had hosted players, and things didn't quite fit, so midway through the season the pair moved out and rented a house in central Bendigo with the Pioneers' fitness and conditioning coach Jake Ford.
McGrath went back home during the summer holidays and they gave up the lease. On his return to school he moved in with a couple in their 30s, renting a room in their house near school and the club.
"They do their thing and I do mine," he said.
Most weeks his mum Kyllie cooks meals for McGrath to put in the freezer, and other times he makes his own.
"At the start of this year I found it pretty hard being by myself all the time, just in my room. There's only so much TV you can watch before you get sick of that as well," he said.
"It was hard at the start but since I've got my licence it's made things a bit easier, I can go to the gym or do something like that. I'm not really reliant on catching taxis everywhere.
"You have to mature a bit more, and be more professional. Instead of watching telly I stretch or do some core work. It's probably taught me to be more diligent with my time."
Occasionally, particularly when injured, he's found he's had too much time to think, ponder and wonder. He's looking forward to filling that time more often, soon.
"Sometimes it's good to just be by yourself and to chill out and be with your own thoughts. But being injured it's been pretty hard, because all I really think about is not being able to play footy and whether it's affected my chances to get drafted," he said.
"I've spoken to the Pioneers to get a fitness program drawn up [before the combine]. I want to get my fitness up so I can show recruiters what I can do."
Twitter: @AFL_CalTwomey
