After months of speculation, Essendon ruckman Sam Draper has made reportedly made his decision and will be moving to the Brisbane Lions from 2026 and beyond.
The addition of Draper to an aging Brisbane ruck group will fill their fans with confidence.
The Lions have had to manage their 31 year old number ruck Oscar McInerney throughout this season, restricting him to playing only 11 of Brisbane’s 24 matches this season.
McInerney missed the 2024 premiership due to injury, and his grand final replacement—Darcy Fort—will turn 33 next season.
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In what looks like a perfect fit on paper for both parties, Draper will still have to overcome his season-ending achilles injury that has kept him out of Essendon’s side since round six.
Such a major injury could be a source of doubt for the Lions fans, but Draper's age of 26 will greatly assist in his recovery.
Jarryd Roughead—who may be the most notable AFL player to have had the same achilles injury at a similar age—made a full recovery.
He went on to play in a further three premierships at the Hawks, as well as earning two All-Australian guernseys and winning the 2013 Coleman Medal.
It was reported earlier in the month that Draper would depart Essendon, the club he had played 78 games for across six seasons and Brisbane were "in the box seat” to recruit him, as per the Herald Sun’s Jay Clark.
But it did not come easily for Brisbane, with Draper having resisted the pull to return home to South Australia and play for the minor premiers, the Adelaide Crows.
"He's been weighing up the Crows, and he's been weighing up the Lions. In the end, he's decided to join Brisbane,” as reported by Tom Morris on SEN Breakfast.
“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.”