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Trade talk: The surprise suitor for Essendon’s free agent ruckman
SEN • June 4th, 2025 1:13 pm
Essendon’s Sam Draper has a surprise suitor.
According to AFL Media’s Cal Twomey, the 26-year-old has surprisingly landed on the radar of the Brisbane Lions as he enters free agency.
Brisbane’s current ruck options are all contracted for 2026 but Oscar McInerney is soon 31, Darcy Fort is soon 32 and Henry Smith, 22, has had some injury issues.
Draper is already a trade target for the Adelaide Crows given he’s a South Australian native, but the Lions are set to make his already tricky decision even more difficult.
“It’s my understanding that Brisbane is among the clubs with interest in Draper, that’s what I’m hearing,” Twomey said on AFL.com.au’s Gettable.
“He’s an unrestricted free agent of course. Adelaide has been in this market and the Bomber have put forward a four-year offer.
“But the premiers, my understanding, have thrown their hat into the ring for Sam Draper. You could see why because he’s four years younger than at least their best options. He’s someone who could fill that next gap. They recently had to ruck Eric Hipwood as well.
“So, stay in Melbourne? Go back to South Australia? Or now Queensland? The options are opening up for Sam Draper.
“He’s seriously considering what he does next year. It’s not a lock that he’s at Essendon.”
Draper is sidelined for the remainder of 2025 due to a ruptured Achilles he suffered against West Coast in Round 6.
