I think the academy boys are being pumped up in here more than the actual output, I would be surprised if Huss gets bid on before our second round pick and Sweid even more so
5 Likes
Iām really comfortable if he stays, heās a good player and an point of advantage in the ruck with his intensity and athleticism, but iām not paying him big money, as he is an injury concern and i would never pay rucks that much cash. If he does choose to stay then we must move Bryan on given the way Vigo looks and the need for other areas of the field to be addressed. Going into 2026 with Draper, Bryan and Vigo (1-2 backups) along with two Ruck/Fwd in Wright and Gerryn is silly. I think May also make this decision easier, he looks comfortable early and is a big enough lump of a lad to pinch hit at desperate time as well.
Iām also really comfortable with him leaving for a Band 1 compo giving us a after first pick selection (which at the moment would be 5/6/7 in the draft). It means we maintain a good pipeline of ruckman with Bryan and Vigo and two backups, potentially Goldy (if he can go around again) Blakiston and a new draftee. The Bryan/Vigo also fits our list age demographic better than Draper/Vigo.
3 Likes
Send him on his way. Letās move past the era of holding onto players to our detriment because of sentimental valueā¦
5 Likes
$100k more will only get us a pick in the 20s
I rather keep him unless Crows come and trump Brisbanes offer
Corrected - Heart says stay Bryan says leave.
2 Likes
$100k a season better than Essendon, this doesnāt mean an extra year then?
4x700k Essendon
4x800k Lions
If true, both offers are insane.
3 Likes
$700,000 is the new $500,000 under the imminent salary cap increases. I think people are getting stuck on numbers they think are high when the market has shifted.
12 Likes
Atleast this draft isnt covid affected
1 Like
If this story is true then Draper would be crazy not to go to Brisbane. More money, better weather, play finals and maybe win a premiership. As an UFA it is out of our hands anyway but I would let him go in a heartbeat due to injuries alone.
2 Likes
I mean 4 years.
1 Like
If we are offering 700k and Brisbane 800k then that wonāt be enough for band one compo?
Isnāt that precisely what Dodoro did with joe daniher to secure band 1 compo.
People seem to have this perception that Rosa is some sort of messiah or gun list manager. I understand and respect that people wanted change, but I think Rosa is unproven and how good or otherwise he may, is yet to play out.
Certainly not a seasoned recruiter or list manager based on his experience, so I sincerely hope he is as good as people assume he is.
We need to get it right.
3 Likes
Played more than 20 games in a season once in the most overrated position in the league. Let him walk
5 Likes
End of first round compo would be fine. Weād go in with 2 decent first round picks and 3 seconds. That give you a lot of options.
Itās overrated if you just do the basics - compete in the ruck, help out the defence in pack marking contests.
But if you are able to win the ball and contribute around the ground like Cameron does now taking contested marks regularly, or like TDK does, or Grundy did at his peak, you are very valuable. Did you not see Jacksonās game last week?
Draper does exceptional things for a ruckman, eventhough to date he hasnāt been able to do it consistently. But heās just entering his prime as a ruckman. His marking has got better and better, and he is athletic and aggressive as a ground player in general play.
Bryan is more just the basic ruckman.
If Draper recovers fully from the achilles he is worth every cent of the big money Brisbane and Adelaide might offer.
4 Likes
Could people just get some perspective on the ā5 picks under 25ā thing?
Four of them we already have. A Draper compensation pick gets us one moreā¦one.
The other 4 are irrelevant to the decision.
2 Likes
It wonāt be, but if we arenāt offering Drapes the kind of money that would trigger Band 1 compensation, then we canāt exactly complain if we donāt get it
Iād rather just keep Draper. Pick after our first in compensation or we sign him up. That simple.
3 Likes
How likely is it that we can draft and develop a player better than Draper with a pick in the early 20s or whatever?
Based on years of exposed development seems very very unlikely, 800k is ā ā ā ā all these days, look at Gresham or McKayās salaries
Furthermore if it does end up being a weaker draft weāre letting him go for peanuts compensation
3 Likes