Restricted Free Agent Sam Draper

[walterhobbs]

Going.

Where to?

 

[wingersclub]

I always thought he’d become a very good ruckman but it’s just not happening.
My Essendon mate still reckons he is better than Max Gawn

11

Max Gawn

Age

32

Ht

209cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

7.4

3star

HB

6.7

4star

CL

2.8

4star

HO

35.3

5star

D

18.5

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

7.0

4star

CL

3.5

4star

HO

29.2

5star

D

8.4

3star

K

3.6

2star

HB

4.8

4star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

15.6

5star

and will have a better overall career…

 

[jimmytigs]

I always thought he’d become a very good ruckman but it’s just not happening.
My Essendon mate still reckons he is better than Max Gawn and will have a better overall career…

from afar Max seemed to take a while,but he always said the right things,admired and learned off Goldy,then passed them all

english and to a lesser extent marshall were getting beaten up every game by the three G's and nicnat,then they battled it out for all australian ruck last year,just not seeing it with draper,in fact workhorses like meek and pittonet are to this point far more effective,time will tell

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Obviously not an essendon fan but my read on Draper is that he is capable of brilliance, and mind numbing stupidity, and that the ratio at which these events occur is sub optimal.

More likely to cost you a game than win you one, but capable of both

The IQ of the bloke is perfectly summed up in the Essendon clearance numbers against Melbourne vs the Freo ones the next week...

 

[projectv]

Where to?

The VFL.

 

[The 747]

I don't watch Essendon games, but have an Essendon supporting mate who hates this guy. What makes this guy so despised?

He's a very dumb (on the field) footballer. Was at Ess v Collingwood with some mates, here's an example:

Essendon have a kick in, goes to the pocket.
Draper is the next target down the line.
He turns his back on the play and runs forward, while the ball is being kicked to him.
His opponent marks the ball uncontested.
Essendon members sitting around me are vocal.

 

[Opium]

I always thought he’d become a very good ruckman but it’s just not happening.
My Essendon mate still reckons he is better than Max Gawn and will have a better overall career…

Draper can't kick. Terrible skills. Most overrated ruckman in the game

 

[cAsEy_18]

Draper can't kick. Terrible skills. Most overrated ruckman in the game

What’d you think of his 2 set shots from 50m on the weekend?

 

[The Nostradamus]

Do dons fans even want to keep Draper?

 

[L_W_P]

Realistically, who would want/need him?

Crows - If they are done with ROB then they might have a crack. ROB out for a semi decent pick and Draper in for free?

Melbourne - Gawn and Campbell can't play forever but Draper is a VERY different ruck than either of them.

Richmond - Draper could be an OK 'culture guy' for a few years following Nank. He takes the brunt of things while the kids develop?

St Kilda - Had a crack previously and seem keen on playing Marshall forward. If Harry Boyd doesn't work out then Draper might be an option while Dodson develops.

I can't see anyone else really looking at him, unless their ruck plans blow up eg Grundy retires this year or Tim English decides he actually does want to go home.

 

[THE_GUN]

Richmond - Draper could be an OK 'culture guy' for a few years following Nank. He takes the brunt of things while the kids develop?

No thanks

10 minutes of flash per game doesnt make him a good ruckman
id rather keep Nank for another 5 years

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Do dons fans even want to keep Draper?

If available we’d be going for him

 

[The Nostradamus]

If available we’d be going for him

Grundy retiring?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Grundy retiring?

Doesn’t have more than a year maybe 2 left at best

 

[Golumless]

Providing it wasn't an expensive contract, I'd be curious to see what a move to Adelaide would do with him. Draper seems like a player that's stalled out* at Essendon, and equally, Adelaide would be providing near-ideal conditions for a ruck to flourish. After all, we've preferred to run one ruck doing 75-80% of the ruck work with a part-timer for the last decade and that's not due to change with Thilthorpe.

At worse, we just spend some money in free agency to end up in the same situation we're currently in. Where we have a deeply flawed ruck.


* In before Draper has a career year because he's out of contract, before cruising with a 4-5 year deal.

 

[Hamingja]

Adelaide would be providing near-ideal conditions for a ruck to flourish. After all, we've preferred to run one ruck doing 75-80% of the ruck work with a part-timer for the last decade and that's not due to change with Thilthorpe.

Essendon recruiting Goldstein has definitely restricted Draper IMO. Kind of an unnecessary move and might hurt them big time if Draper moves on and rediscovers his best form as a sole ruck and then Goldstein retires.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Doesn’t have more than a year maybe 2 left at best

He's contracted for longer and Draper sucks.

 

[Golumless]

Essendon recruiting Goldstein has definitely restricted Draper IMO. Kind of an unnecessary move and might hurt them big time if Draper moves on and rediscovers his best form as a sole ruck and then Goldstein retires.

They restricted Draper beforehand as well. Andrew Phillips would routinely pick up 30-40% of ruck contests in 2022. Bryant last year also picked off 50% ruck contests when he played.

It's no man's land for a ruckman to do well in for all of them.