Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Netball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Important SN update for SouthlandTrade talk: Two clubs in the hunt for Draper
SEN • June 25th, 2025 10:02 am
With Essendon reluctant to enter a bidding war for ruckman Sam Draper, they may lose their star to the Brisbane Lions, according to Sam Edmund.
Brisbane’s current ruck options are all contracted for 2026 but Oscar McInerney is soon 31, Darcy Fort is soon 32 and Henry Smith, 22, has had some injury issues.
Draper is already believed to be a trade target for the Adelaide Crows given he’s a South Australian native, but the Lions are set to make his already tricky decision even more difficult.
“The big man Sam Draper, an unrestricted free agent and he comes for nothing,” Edmund told SEN Breakfast.
“The Bombers can’t match any offers if he chooses to leave.
“He’s wrestling with an offer from Brisbane and Essendon.
“I am loathe to throw any numbers out because they get thrown around and there’s often some guesds work but we can say there is a difference between the two.
“How significant depends on your definition of significant but the Lions one is better, not by a huge amount but about $100k a season better and that’s being conservative.
“Essendon offered him, by my understanding, a four-year contract to sign which he has sat on. The Bombers are firm and they are not wanting to overpay for Draper or ruckmen in general.
“they want him to stay but they’re not getting pulled into a bidding war with Brisbane. Over the course of the contract there’s about a half a million dollar difference.
“There’s a broad conversation for him to have.
Brisbane are worried about McInerney, they need someone in that window while they’re in the Premiership window.”
