AFL Player # 2: Sam Draper - Achilles, season done - 18/4

[Dave]

Contract Status: Out of contract 2025
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 20, TheUnicorn

 

[Lore]

 

[Lore]

 

[ghostdog]

I wasnt arguing that Draper is better, more that NicNat is not the aerial threat he was indicated as being. NicNat for the most part, take one or less marks per game, of which a very small amount have been hangers. As Draper is less than 50 games into his career, he has the opportunity to improve this aspect of his game - something NicNat never did. Personally I would rather a Ruck model their marking game on a Gawn or a Nankervis, who can take a contested mark, than one who might win Mark of the Year but offer very little else in that regards.. besides, Draper has just won a Goal of the Year, so don't be greedy

NicNat can take hangers, Draper does not generally... I think he might have taken one. In that sense I don't think Draper is the 'aerialist' that NicNat is. I would also rather Draper was taking marks around the ground and I hope that's part of his game that he really focuses on improving. That would make him the 'aerial threat' that he isn't now, hangers or not.

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Discussions have also opened on an extension for emerging ruck star Sam Draper.

Draper's deal with the Bombers goes through to the end of 2023 when he will be one season short of free agency, although early talks have begun on furthering that deal.

The 23-year-old shapes as a crucial part of Essendon's future, with his brilliant running goal-of-the-year contender against Gold Coast showing his rare athleticism and aggression for a player of his type.

St Kilda tried to lure Draper on a lucrative four-year deal in 2019 before he had made his AFL debut before he stuck with the Bombers, who drafted him with the No.1 pick in the rookie draft at the end of 2016. – Callum Twomey

 

[Chucks]

Haven't lurked on here for a little bit - so apologies in advance if the concepts already been raised:

Bit left field - but I really, really wouldn't be surprised if this fella went on to become our Captain one day. In a real Gawn-like fashion: lovable larrikin, who goes on to get a few really good seasons of footy under his belt, while maturing in a leadership sense as well.

On a surface level he's already got so much going for him in terms of potential traits. You can see the lift the team gets from anything he does. The way the boys rally around him whenever he kicks a goal etc is quite something, clearly a popular and respected member of the team.

What's everyone think? I know it may seem a far cry at the moment, but with a few good seasons under his belt, I could really see him being in the conversation one day.

 

[TheUnicorn]

Brilliant marking today Drapes Really excited to see your future!

 

[Lore]

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Still has some growth. Went missing in the last.

 

[naraku]

Held his own against Pies duo and that goal celebration

 

[ghostdog]

NicNat can take hangers, Draper does not generally... I think he might have taken one. In that sense I don't think Draper is the 'aerialist' that NicNat is. I would also rather Draper was taking marks around the ground and I hope that's part of his game that he really focuses on improving. That would make him the 'aerial threat' that he isn't now, hangers or not.

Aye, Sam Draper marking the ball tonight was bloody marvellous. Do it again next week, Mullett.

 

[katana]

Still has some growth. Went missing in the last.

reckon he was off until the 10 minute mark or so...

 

[MiguelM]

Brilliant marking today Drapes Really excited to see your future!

This was the most pleasing. Controlling the air Gawn like today.

That is massive when Rucks mark consistently.

 

[JT_the_Man]

Honestly thought he was the best player on the ground by a fair margin today.

 

[eth-dog]

Was so so good

 

[andleanback]

Held his own against Pies duo and that goal celebration

He was literally off for the first 15 minutes. I thought was injured at first.

 

[TheFrenchCut]

Me watching the last two weeks of Draper has basically just been the dumb and dumber smiling and nodding at each other gif on repeat

 

[Yoda_]

His 12 goals ranks second only to Told Goldstein (14) for goals amongst number 1 rucks in the league

 

[Alberto_Magnifico]

I can't wait until Bryan is ready and the two play together, I'll be humming the theme to The Odd Couple in my head non-stop

 

[Red Black and Blue]

reckon he was off until the 10 minute mark or so...

Even still 2 touches, 2 hitouts in 20 minutes when the game is there to be won isn't great. Not being overly critical I still gave him votes, but he still has work to do to match the hype.

 

[Yoda_]

Even still 2 touches, 2 hitouts in 20 minutes when the game is there to be won isn't great. Not being overly critical I still gave him votes, but he still has work to do to match the hype.

Draper is just the ruck version of Shai Bolton. When you dig a little deeper into the impact he actually has, you realise you're just seduced by the highlights and not the whole package...

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Draper is just the ruck version of Shai Bolton. When you dig a little deeper into the impact he actually has, you realise you're just seduced by the highlights and not the whole package...

That’s a little much. He’s just building still. He’ll be a top 5 ruck for his prime, easily. Just the time frame is still probably a year or two away from being able to do it for four quarters.

 

[Yoda_]

That’s a little much. He’s just building still. He’ll be a top 5 ruck for his prime, easily. Just the time frame is still probably a year or two away from being able to do it for four quarters.

Oh, I am right on the Sammy Draper bandwagon, the hyperbole doesn't quite match the output. He is certainly building, has 2 - 3 levels to go up, you are probably right there is a top 5 ruck in the league in that goofy frame of his somewhere.

 

[andleanback]

Draper is just the ruck version of Shai Bolton. When you dig a little deeper into the impact he actually has, you realise you're just seduced by the highlights and not the whole package...

What are you talking about he was close to BOG yesterday and the coaches saw it the same way.

 

[Yoda_]

What are you talking about he was close to BOG yesterday and the coaches saw it the same way.

Yes, Shai has also had some incredibly good games and was duly rewarded. I gave him votes, not BOG votes but one of his best games. People seem to get seduced by his highlights reel rather than his output.

 

[andleanback]

Yes, Shai has also had some incredibly good games and was duly rewarded. I gave him votes, not BOG votes but one of his best games. People seem to get seduced by his highlights reel rather than his output.

His ‘highlights’ are glimpses of what he could be, he’s still a baby in ruckmen terms. I was very critical of Draper in the first half of the year and even thought he should’ve been dropped at one point, but his last 6-7 weeks have been outstanding. The last piece of the puzzle in his game was the around the ground marking and whether he can do it consistently in a game. And he showed that yesterday in spades.