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Trade talk: Why free agent Draper decided to join Brisbane
SEN • September 9th, 2025 10:49 am
Essendon ruckman Sam Draper has chosen to join Brisbane as a free agent this off-season, reports SEN’s Tom Morris.
The 26-year-old unrestricted free agent was weighing up offers from the Lions and Crows as well as potentially remaining at Essendon, but Morris says he’s now decided on moving north.
Draper played 78 games for the Dons across six seasons, and Morris explained some of the considerations behind his decision to exercise his free agency rights.
“Yeah, lock it in, Sam Draper will play for the Brisbane Lions next year as a free agent,” Morris told SEN Breakfast.
“He's been weighing up the Crows, and he's been weighing up the Lions. In the end, he's decided to join Brisbane.
“There have been a few considerations here. Number one is his business interests off the field. He does a podcast here in Melbourne and (it’s also about) where his partner wants to live.”
Hailing from South Adelaide, Morris says that Adelaide’s offer also made Draper mull over his decision with the Crows hoping to pair Draper with Reilly O’Brien.
Instead, Draper will join Brisbane, where he’ll likely form a partnership with either Oscar McInerney or Darcy Fort.
“The fact that the Crows came hard and he's initially from Adelaide made him think more than twice about joining them and Reilly O'Brien in that same team, the Crows believed they could fit them both in,” Morris said.
“But in the end, he decided to join the Lions, who are in the premiership window.
“There are real doubts around Oscar McInerney's durability with his back and how long he can play for, even though he's contracted for next year.
“So, Draper will go there. That's now done, and it will become official in early October when the free agency period opens.”
Draper only played five games for Essendon during the 2025 season after rupturing his Achilles against West Coast in April.
