He didn’t have a good year but showed quite a bit in the last 5 weeks or so.
Had injury issues in the preseason and season proper.
An injury free pre-season will provide greater fitness and more continuity.
He was infuriating at times this year. Will be very interesting to see how things play out. I’m cautiously optimistic and I say this as something of a basher.
There’s always ruckman on the move you could pick up on the cheap, and with Bryan taking the mantle we would be sorted.
if he was to leave next year via free agency there would be argument to hold him on the hope if we do drop next year we maybe be able a first round pick as compo
I…think Bryan will make it.
He’s not the full package yet, but he has some useful skills. But there’s no way I’m rock solid on him.
Goldstein struggled to finish this year.
Vigo hasn’t played a single game of AFL.
So…I appreciate you’re getting what you want out of trading Draper, but it has to be noted that it comes at a considerable risk.
sure is lots to learn
No no Wimm it’s foolproof don’t you see? Foolproof I say!!!
Draper is in a free agent year next year, so the bidding war will start then.
Quite ■■■■■■ that a ‘work in progress’ player can also be a free agent.
Nothing at this club is foolproof.
I’m not dismissing the suggestion out of hand. I don’t think we should have any sacred cows anymore.
If Draper gets us what we need, then by all means. But I do think there are issues with the idea.
The teams that are left in the finals, bar sydney with grundy (and he can do this part of the game also) what do the ruckman all have in common ?
mcinnery, meek, stanley, GWS ruck, port ruck … they are all no nonsense ruckman who play as ruckman and don’t try and produce a highlight reel of feats that they 8 times out of 10 can’t produce or yield great results, while the other 2 looks exceptional no doubt.
Draper will never be a decent ruck, cos he’s joe daniher mk 2. what’s to do the flashy stuff, but the mundane actual ruck stuff is just meh to him.
Spot on and Bryan can be that ruckman for us provided he builds he’s fitness and gets stronger
Or proof of a fool?
Horseshit
Like the perfect tap to Merrett that won the Freo game, and ought to have won the Crows game?
I didn’t realise he is 26 years old.
It’s time for him to certainly mature next year. Need consistency more so and him to take next step in his football.
If he kicks like Joe and moves like Joe…
The fact that hes 26 he should go and take a 2nd rounder now. Horrid footballer with patches of brilliance.
It’s interesting Sam has played more games in his first five years than Gawn.
If they can get the centre set up working with Hobbs or Tsatas always at the feet of Drapes for the negative ruck contest and then the dish out, Merrett and Caldwell/Parish for the perfect tap, and then Sammy for the occasional gallop out of the middle swatting flies, it’s decent.
They’ll win games out of the middle.
Many.
Gawn was a back to back AA at Sam’s age
Oh - what years was he back to back AA ruck ?
How as Sam played more games than gawns first 5 years? Where are you getting that stat from?
How has Sam played more games in his first five years than Gawn?
Gawn had knee issues early on, so did Sammy.
To verify, you could always look up the reliable AFL tables;