AFL Player # 2: Sam Draper - Not playing this weekend due to "knee soreness" - 3/5

[Dave]

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

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

3 contested marks down the line today, is what we need from him. Better.

 

[fairbump_playon]

he was played further up the ground than he was vs adelaide, can’t recall him being the deepest forward as often as he was last week

Fair enough. Still went forward at times so I don’t reckon it was radically different but you’re right.

 

[Happyskeret]

I have been critical of him not doing the basic fundamentals ie marking kicking but he is definitely getting in the right spots at the right time which shows me that he is not footy dumb it’s more of an execution issue.

I think people need to be mindful as it hasn’t been mentioned much is he didn’t have a proper preseason preparation so I think he has been playing a bit of catch up. It’s like the hard things come easy for him and the easy things can be hard for him. I thought he did some super important things today.

 

[mcgrath_truther]

Fair enough. Still went forward at times so I don’t reckon it was radically different but you’re right.

it was a marginal difference but i think it worked in his favour

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Better this week with the basics.

 

[VelvetSledge]

Much better week but the bar was low.

I suspect Goldy will have a rest next week so it’s a good chance for him to have a crack as a solo ruck

 

[andleanback]

That’s what he had to do. Take contested marks down the line more consistently, if can do that then he’ll become a player

 

[Lance Uppercut]

I cannot believe the bullshit spouted about this bloke on here. Had an off week and all of a sudden he's the whipping boy extraordinaire! Unreal.

People completely forget how us dropping off the perch last year correlated almost precisely with Draper's injury. Now, correlation isn't always causation but it's also not a coincidence, by any stretch. His physicality and energy is critical for us, and yes, you'll get the full Draper - brilliance AND brainfades, but fair hecken suck of the sav the carry on over the last week has been ridiculous

 

[MiguelM]

I cannot believe the bullshit spouted about this bloke on here. Had an off week and all of a sudden he's the whipping boy extraordinaire! Unreal.

People completely forget how us dropping off the perch last year correlated almost precisely with Draper's injury. Now, correlation isn't always causation but it's also not a coincidence, by any stretch. His physicality and energy is critical for us, and yes, you'll get the full Draper - brilliance AND brainfades, but fair *en suck of the sav the carry on over the last week has been ridiculous

Also Ridley injury last year hurt big time.

 

[bombreys]

Much better week but the bar was low.

I suspect Goldy will have a rest next week so it’s a good chance for him to have a crack as a solo ruck

Feel the same way.

It was his best game of the year, so you give him props for that. But he also wasn't great. And I'm starting to think that's how his career may end up. He's just an okay ruck.

 

[Just A Tragic]

I think it's obvious what the coach values put of him - physicality & contest. In the postgame Scott says "he never looses a contest, if he doesn't mark it he brings it to ground". Compared to 2MP, Draper is much better for this, and it's something we have all been crying out for.

The X-factor stuff is the cream.
Now we just need some genuine crummers.

 

[ant555]

Was a lot better and he was more switched on to what was going on around the ground.

 

[I Remember Bluey]

No mention of Drapes in the MRO report, re the lifting of the leg in the ruck contest

 

[MarkJohnson#1]

I was sceptical playing Wright and two rucks but I was wrong, must keep this formation going forward.

 

[mcgrath_truther]

No mention of Drapes in the MRO report, re the lifting of the leg in the ruck contest

nothing in it to me (personally) just a stupid choice and a dumb ruck infringement

 

[I Remember Bluey]

nothing in it to me (personally) just a stupid choice and a dumb ruck infringement

Yep, it was more Ralph the mouth saying that the MRO would definitely look at it.

 

[jdstorm]

I was sceptical playing Wright and two rucks but I was wrong, must keep this formation going forward.

It worked because Stringer was playing as a mid rather then a small key forward.

If Jake can keep that up is the big question because if he can it really starts to make things click into place.

 

[Rick Ross]

It worked because Stringer was playing as a mid rather then a small key forward.

If Jake can keep that up is the big question because if he can it really starts to make things click into place.

That was the balancing act - Stringer playing from the centre (plus there’s someone on the bench).

Thought we could have done with more pace up forward though. Didn’t see as much forward pressure as previous two weeks… although half expecting some statistical “facts” to prove me wrong …

 

[craffles]

One of the most frustrating footballers I’ve ever watched as an Essendon supporter. He’s clearly massive for team culture and the side walks taller with him in there but his laconic style and comical errors are hard to watch.

That being said, there’s zero point dropping him. Give him and Goldy the whole year side by side. Let him learn from one of the best rucks this century. It will pay off in the long run. Or we convert Nik Cox into a ruck after he puts some extra kgs on.

 

[BomberManU]

Thought it was a much more mature game. Looked a bit like someone who copped a bit of a reality check, perhaps.

 

[Donakebab]

Jeez Drapes airing another clubs dirty laundry is so dumb. Stay in your lane ya big galoot.

 

[Vindicater]

Jeez Drapes airing another clubs dirty laundry is so dumb. Stay in your lane ya big galoot.

???

 

[Gabe251]

Hilarious s**t, I love it

 

[mcgrath_truther]

???

made a dumb remark about luke beveridge during some podcast lol

 

[mcgrath_truther]

Jeez Drapes airing another clubs dirty laundry is so dumb. Stay in your lane ya big galoot.