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CLUBS have been divided all year on who should be the No.1 pick at this year's draft, with as many as nine prospects seen as possible contenders midway through the season.

Essendon called out the name of Andrew McGrath on Friday night, and he is a deserving choice in that spot. But who would other clubs have taken if they held that choice?

In the lead-up to the NAB AFL Draft, AFL.com.au surveyed leading recruiters from the majority of clubs to ask that question, and why. The results were split, highlighting the difficult call faced by the Bombers.

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Club 1 Andrew McGrath
"I haven't seen a bloke like him in the way he changes the style of a game and the angles he runs. With a couple of quick steps he can totally change the way his team is going to attack and push forward. In picking him it's not denigrating McCluggage, I just rate McGrath a little higher. I've probably seen McGrath live about 10 times and I think his best skill set is suited to defence. He can shut down players while providing run and rebound."

Club 2 Hugh McCluggage
"He's clean with his hands, he's clean with his feet and he's a goalkicking midfielder. They're so rare and hard to find, so that's what put him ahead for me. He averaged two goals a game as a midfielder so that puts him into an elite group."

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Club 3 Andrew McGrath
"He can play a variety of positions, which is always a good thing. His versatility is a real positive. But he's also able to shut down dangerous players when he needs to, which is a strength."

Club 4 Andrew McGrath
"His ability to break the game up is what gives him the edge for me. When you're watching his edits he's really special. He has that repeat speed and game sense, and his leadership is terrific as well. That should be a huge factor when you're weighing up the players in this range."

Club 5 Hugh McCluggage
"McCluggage has been extremely consistent over the course of the year and I can't even recall him having a bad game. He has a scoreboard impact from the midfield, which you don't see that often, and one of the exciting things about kids from the country is the amount of growth and development left in them. I see him like that."

Club 6 Will Setterfield
"Because of injuries, he's a player who hasn't had a lot of exposure. He's got so much scope in all areas of the ground, so he can play in a number of spots. He's a bit taller than McCluggage, which helps, but for me it would be a choice out of those two. McGrath is a future captain and is attractive in terms of the defensive foundations in his game. But I like Setterfield the most."

Club 7 Hugh McCluggage
"It's as close as you can get. But Hugh just always seems to be in the right spot at the right time, and he kicks goals. I could go either way with him or McGrath and be more than happy. I like McCluggage's class, and you can see him going through the roof when he's in a full-time system."

Club 8 Hugh McCluggage / Tim Taranto / Andrew McGrath
"I honestly can't split these three. I haven't had to do much work on all three because they were always going to be so early, but all are very good. I like Taranto as much as anyone in the draft."

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Club 9 Hugh McCluggage
"He has massive scope for improvement left in him and real upside. Coming off no pre-season with a back injury, for him to have the year he had was amazing, really. His ceiling is enormous, but he's already quality with everything he does. His awareness and decision-making is top end. He's a freak with how quick he thinks, and is a great kid too."

Club 10 Andrew McGrath
"He's a little more ballistic than the other couple in that mix. I just feel like he's going to have some real leadership qualities. His championships brought him into the conversation as the No.1 pick and I'd have him there."

Club 11 Hugh McCluggage
"The more I watch him play, the more he delivers the same stuff time and again. I get drawn by the guys with time with the footy, and he just has so much of that. He couldn't have had a better year and he's just so smart with the ball."

Club 12 Hugh McCluggage
"I really like the potential growth in him. I'm a big fan of McGrath as well, but I really like the guys who are good kicks as well. I don't think McGrath hurts teams as much with his kicking as McCluggage, and a lot of his kicking is lateral whereas McCluggage takes it forward a bit more. But it's very tight." 

VERDICT
Of the 12 recruiters, six would have taken McCluggage, four preferred McGrath, one opted for Setterfield and one couldn't split McGrath, McCluggage and Taranto. But there was only one recruiter's opinion that mattered and Adrian Dodoro's Bombers picked McGrath. 

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