Essendon, like every other bottom 10 club in the coming days, will be forced to make some critical list calls after a season from hell on the injury front.
But for one star — Sam Draper — the Bombers themselves are the ones waiting, as he weighs up which AFL club he wants to play for in 2026 and beyond.
Foxfooty.com.au breaks down the pros and cons of Draper choosing Essendon, Brisbane or Adelaide as his next destination.
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Essendon pros: As good a player as Draper is, any recommitment to Tullamarine he makes is first and foremost a massive win for their culture. Outside of Jake Stringer last off-season, the Bombers haven’t really had many big-name players exit the Hangar; but that’s not to say that impact of Draper’s non-signature wouldn’t be massive. At a time where Brad Scott has openly said his club is amid a rebuild, every senior player the club can get to re-commit long term is a key signing. The likes of Andrew McGrath, Jordan Ridley Ben McKay and Darcy Parish are all signed until at least 2029, and the Bombers’ upped offer of five years would see Draper join McGrath as the only other player contracted until the start of the next decade. With Nick Bryan and Vigo Visentini signing on for two more years last week, the guidance of Draper throughout the formative years at AFL level is obviously invaluable, alongside Todd Goldstein should he go around for one more year. The club hasn’t been shy in playing two rucks before, so ideally, Draper staying wouldn’t impact the young duo’s growth at the top level either.
Essendon cons: The fact Brad Scott’s side are amid a rebuild, means that the draft compensation they would receive for an unrestricted free agent walking out the door could be worth even more than it has in recent years. Already sitting with picks four and five in their back pocket, the Bombers could make a serious play at this year’s draft come November. The question will also be asked: Is Sam Draper in Essendon’s next premiership side? And if not, are Nick Bryan or Vigo Visentini? A cruel setback with a ruptured Achilles may have capped Draper’s ceiling slightly, but make no mistake, he is at his optimal value to rival clubs right now.
Brisbane pros:Foxfooty.com.au understands the Lions are the strong frontrunners in the three-horse race for Draper. Securing his services would be a major coup given the age profile and injury concerns surrounding their current ruck options. Oscar McInerney’s well-documented niggles have restricted him to just 11 games this season, to the point where Darcy Fort has seemingly become the first-choice ruck. With McInerney now 31 and Fort 32, Draper would represent forward planning as well as an immediate boost. For a side firmly in the premiership window — and as the reigning premiers — it’s hard to imagine the Lions turning away a player of Draper’s calibre who is eager to join. At just 26, he sits perfectly within the Lions’ competitive timeline and, like several of their emerging stars, brings a spark of flair that would allow him to slot seamlessly into the group.
Brisbane cons: Unless Brisbane intends to leave either McInerney or Fort out of the side altogether — which would be curious given both are contracted until 2026 — one of them would almost certainly need to spend more time in the forward line alongside Draper. While Draper’s forward craft is by no means negligible, Chris Fagan’s front half already features Eric Hipwood, Logan Morris and impending recruit Oscar Allen, meaning the addition of another tall could quickly crowd the space. Still, aside from those early structural challenges at Springfield, there’s little downside to adding a player of Draper’s quality.
Adelaide pros: An arrival at West Lakes from the 205cm ruckman would be another strong endorsement of Adelaide’s direction this season. Interstate recruits Alex Neal-Bullen, James Peatling and Isaac Cumming all joined the tri-coloured Crows last off-season, and although they fell short in their pursuit of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, the list is undoubtedly stronger with another big man added. Before his season-ending Achilles injury in Round 6, Draper had already showcased forward craft superior to most primary ruckmen — highlighted by a three-goal haul against the Crows themselves in Round 2.
Adelaide cons: Despite reports that Matthew Nicks recently phoned Draper to reaffirm the club’s interest following Reilly O’Brien’s three-year contract extension, it would be an unprecedented move for Adelaide to bring Draper in. Under Nicks, the Crows have never fielded two genuine rucks in the same side, with all eight of Kieran Strachan’s appearances since his 2020 debut coming only when O’Brien was unavailable. Third-string ruck and SSP signing Lachie McAndrew inked a two-year deal in June and has enjoyed a strong SANFL season, giving the club confidence he can step in if required. Strachan, meanwhile, was shifted to the inactive list in February and, despite returning from an acute navicular stress fracture, appears highly unlikely to go around again.
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