Draper and smart in the same sentence……not sure about that!
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Only that’s the correct spelling, not the one that’s usually wrong and worth taking the pee out of.
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I realised after I hit reply.
But I was committed by that stage.
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But then it became a pun, which is even better.
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Might be going a bit premature (having not read the article as I’m not an Age subscriber) but…
It reads like EFC keeping things open.
Like few people on Blitz have said, depending upon what else happens, may be clear we’re want to keep OR clear compo is better:
- Where we finish on ladder
- Do we land another FA-
- What is going on with Bryant
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Yep a lot to play out.
if Draper has a career best year then he will get more money than Josh batttle which will mean 1st round compo
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‘He’s not being pressured or coerced’: Bombers coach gives free agent space
ByJake Niall
February 21, 2025 — 6.59pm
Essendon coach Brad Scott has told ruckman Sam Draper that he will not “coerce” or pressure the free agent into staying with the Bombers in the face of potentially large offers to leave.
Addressing the issue of Draper potentially exercising his free agency rights and earning a high draft pick for the Bombers, Scott said it would hurt the Bombers in the short term to lose Draper and that the focus was on retaining him.
“Yeah [it would hurt], but they’re the decisions that are made on a club level,” Scott said of the immediate impact of losing Draper and the compensation factor.
“Clearly, I would have a role to play in that, but I think we’re very clear that we want to retain Sam. So that’s just where our focus is.”
Scott said he had communicated to Draper that he was “absolutely” wanted, but also that he would not be placed under pressure to sign and that the decision was his.
“He’s just incredibly appreciative of the support and the candour, the fact that he’s not being pressured or coerced into making a decision.
“Because if he makes a decision to stay and he hasn’t been coerced, I’ve got a player that I know, with 100 per cent certainty, is invested in Essendon footy club, and that’s the outcome I want.”
Draper is viewed as a prospective target for the Adelaide Crows, who have salary cap room and place a priority on luring South Australians home, as they successfully did with their two best players, Izak Rankine and Jordan Dawson. The Crows have a need for a ruckman on their list, with veteran ruck Riley O’Brien dropped at times last season.
While clubs have pushed free agents for clarity on their intentions and sometimes put the acid on them to stay, Scott is taking the same approach with Draper as he did with Darcy Parish, Mason Redman and Andy McGrath when they were free agents in 2023 and 2024. Redman was heavily courted by the Crows before signing a long-term deal.
“I’ve still the same view,” Scott said of his attitude to Draper’s choice. “One of the benefits of the system now with free agency is that you get eight years with a player, to show the vision of the club, the professionalism, all the things to enable the player to enjoy some success either now or in the future.
“I think eight years is enough to do that. I just think it’s incumbent on the club to be able to prove to the player they can do that. And if they can’t, then the player probably makes the decision to move.
The Essendon coach also communicated to Draper that his hands-off approach to the contract discussions did not mean he was anything but keen for him to stay. Draper is viewed as an upbeat presence in the playing group who helps team morale.
“I’ve made it clear to him how much we value him, only to say that my lack of interference in his contract, don’t take that for lack of interest or a lack of how much I rate him or rate his importance to us.
“So I’ve just made it clear it’s his decision to make. I’ll support him in terms of if he wants to talk to me about that he can. But I won’t be putting pressure on him, just like I didn’t put any pressure on Darcy Parish or Mason Redman or Andy McGrath.
“Potentially it is possible to coerce … a player in to staying. A player in the end resents that and looks back and thinks that they were either guilted into staying or coerced into staying – I think that’s a bad outcome for everyone.
“If that’s the case, you’re not going to get the best out of that player.”
Asked about the compensation if Draper was offered a massive deal, and how the coach would weigh those factors, Scott said: “That’s a club-based decision, in terms of list management at the executive level.”
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I suspect he will take less money and be happy to stay with us.
Either way, we’re in a good position given the compo, and Bryan will get plenty of senior 1st ruck experience this year.
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Depends on the situation. We have been crying out for fast ball movement into the forward line. If he is steaming forward from the centre I’m happy for him to roost it in rather than handball sideways to another player and for them to have to get it, run a few steps to balance before being able to kick it (not to mention the real risk of the handball missing the target)…it just gives defence more time to read and get into position
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Not sure about that. Bombing it in hasnt worked for us for a long, long time. Easy for backs to read and intercept. Happens week after week. We need strategy going forward. A kick into a zone where forwards lead to, as in trained, set plays. A forward leading is always going to have the advantage as action quicker than reaction. Other sides do it all day, time for us to do the same. Draper needs to give it off by hand to someone who can deliver it to our advantage if he has time.
I think reading between the lines, we really don’t care if he stays or goes.
he leaves, we get well compensated (more than he is worth in a trade)
He stays, we keep a senior level competent ruckman. He’s ungainly but he has a bit of presence and x-factor few others on the list has.
Personally, I have a bit of a problem rewarding someone who turns it on and gets fit in a contract year. I certainly wouldn’t be looking at a single pre-season when it’s obvious that this is an outlier based upon exposed form. I’d be happy to move past him end of year.
I’ve said this before but if it the choice between Draper and a proper crack at a rebuild with potentially your first round picks,
I am taking that rebuild everyday of the week.
And before people jump on me about four picks it would be our normal pick say pick 5 compo pick pick 6 then Melbourne’s pick probably around pick 10, then using our second and the saints move that to a club like Gold Coast who needs points to get another first
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Yep, it’s a seriously good Draft hand just before Tassie come in to pillage the best talent.
Things can turn reasonably quickly if the right moves are made, either in trades or selecting the right guys at the Draft.
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Add it to an already young group and we start to look a while better for the future.
With that sort of draft haul we could add another premium midfielder another tall forward, another gun small then with the fourth pick go crazy.
I have far more faith in Rosa picking than i did with dodo
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There’s really no reading between the lines needed.
We can’t sign him until he’s interested in signing. Draper won’t sign now when his performance this season will add $ to his contract.
So there’s no need to do anything until mid-season at the earliest.
I suspect we’ve said we’re interested in extending him whenever he’s ready to talk. I think that’ll be our default stance unless he confirms he wants to head elsewhere.
We’d also have an idea what we do if he decides to go elsewhere. Whether we get involved in a trade or take the compo pick. Once we know where he’s at, then we’ll fine tune our options.
Media will do their thing and create more drama than actually needed.
But behind the scenes, things will be a bit more amicable than reported.
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I think Draper will stay on less money
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Give me that hard rebuild right fkn now
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We’ll be up and about at some point during the year and that’s when the media will go their hardest in an attempt to detail our season, like clockwork.
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