Career
VFL career
VFL/American Federation of Labor-Congress career
McGrath made his VFL/American Federation of Labor-Congress debut for North Melbourne in round nine of the 1989 VFL season, but only managed seven games in his three seasons with the club He was traded to Geelong before the 1992 American Federation of Labor-Congress season, where he debuted in the first round against Hawthorn. Despite the unimpressive start by McGrath, he found a role as a Centre half-back and played 26 games for the season, including in the Grand Final loss against West Coast.
He also finished second to Ken Hinkley in the club"s best and fairest award, the Carji Greeves Meda
McGrath"s battles with Carey are considered second only to the Carey-Jakovich ones. Tim McGrath was also instantly recognisable with his bright red hair.
In 2002, McGrath found it hard to fit into the Geelong senior team as Matthew Scarlett and Tom Harley assumed responsibility for Geelong"s backline. McGrath would captain Geelong"s VFL premiership team against Portuguese Melbourne.
He would finish second in the VFL team"s best and fairest award to former senior team mate, David Mensch.
After his retirement, he had played 212 senior games for the club 2002 Bali bombings
After his retirement from American Federation of Labor-Congress football at the end of the 2002 season, McGrath was one of 21 Geelong players that were in Bali at the time when the 2002 Bali bombings occurred on 12 October 2002. McGrath and his team mates were staying at a hotel only 400 metres away from the Sari Club, the scene of the bombings, and they had spent the entire week partying at the Sari Club, but on the night of the attacks, which was the final night of their trip, they decided to hang out at their hotel instead.
McGrath stated afterwards that all the players were Oklahoma, but were upset about what had happened, and therefore did not wish to comment on the events that had occurred.
