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Sport Nation
Admin error at the centre of Draper’s free agency status
Sam Edmund • September 2nd, 2025 9:55 am
An administrative error exposed Sam Draper to unrestricted free agency status and a likely raid from rival clubs.
Eyebrows were raised in April when the AFL released its free agency list, with Draper among the unrestricted free agents and not among the top 10 earners at Essendon.
Draper is yet to decide his future, but if he chooses to join Brisbane or Adelaide, the Bombers will be powerless to match the bid as a result.
Draper’s unrestricted free agency status is an unintended consequence of the Bombers shuffling money around for his teammates.
When Draper signed his existing deal in late 2022, the ruckman was clearly among the top earners at Essendon. Club and player were early last year in talks to extend that deal and both parties were confident the commitment would continue.
But in the time since, the Bombers overhauled their list management structure, the Draper talks fizzled out and a series of other contracts were signed or adjusted.
Kyle Langford, Darcy Parish, Sam Durham were among those to pen new deals, shunting Draper down the table of earners.
In a bungle they could yet pay dearly for, by the time Essendon lodged its player payment estimates with the AFL Draper was an unrestricted free agent.
And as a three-club race has unfolded for his signature, the Bombers have been forced to play contract catch-up, adjusting their offer multiple times.
Essendon will still be compensated if Draper decides to leave via free agency, but the ability to match a bid would have given them greater power in negotiations.
Draper had his exit meeting on Monday, but told Bombers officials he was yet to make a decision.
The Lions have been on the hunt for a ruck replacement given Oscar McInerney’s injury troubles.
The Lions have been on the hunt for a ruck replacement given Oscar McInerney’s injury troubles.
