#2 Big Sammy Draper (from May 2024)

is he worth a big contract or is it time to cash in? No guarantees we will draft a top shelf player but you would suspect Adelaide’s offer would attract a pretty high pick.

Depending on where we finish should be a big part of it.
If we finish near the bottom it makes complete sense to let him go because two early picks is huge before tassie comes in.
If we somehow finish high then I can understand the arguement to keep him, but we just can’t afford another huge contract to a inconsistent player we have too many of these deals on our books already

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That’s pretty definitive tbh! I’m ambivalent about him staying or going but my biggest criticism would be his inconsistency which I attribute to his attitude/mindset. His best is game breakingly good; his worst is frustrating as hell to watch. If he can close this gap this year I’ll be more inclined to want him to stay but if he still brings the roller coaster then I’ll be satisfied for another team to have a go at fixing this!

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Is Draper even better than ROB? I’m not sure.

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I just want him to kick a goal after the siren to win us the game, the celebration and carry on would be insane from the big fella.

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Strongly disagree.
Can improve and we’ll likely see some of that this year.
Started footy later than others, and 26 is still reasonably young for a Ruckman.

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He may be the exception to the rule but most guys don’t get better after 26 they tend to maintain that level.
I don’t think he becomes anything more than what he is, that sometimes does a flashy thing or takes a good grab but will still be shanking them and doing silly things type player

Lots of ruckman have their best years late in their careers.

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Has he been training the house down?

That is true but most of those guys can actually kick a football

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We are talking about ruckman right?

His overhead / contested marking improved in 2024. Still a “dunderhead” though

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No he hasnt

Strike come on.

Draper would have to be the worst kick out of all the ruckman in the league by the length of the Flemington straight, and he would have to be close to one of the worst in the league

Incorrect.
KE/DE
Soldo 41.2/58.3
O’Brien 42.4/57.9
Briggs 43.6/56.5
Pittonet 43.8/63.5
Cox 46.4/63.3
McInerney 47.2/58.0
Grundy 47.8/58.2
Nankervis 49.4/64.3
Williams 50.0/63.7
Visentini 50.0/63.6
Witts 50.4/59.9
Draper 50.8/61.5

In fact, not even close.
In fact, among the better kicks in the league for ruckmen.

Edit: Bryan is 55.9/72.1

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I think he’s got his head focused, looks strong and healthy and is having a v good pre-season. Goldy mentoring him and Bryza supporting the load makes me reckon he’ll have maybe his best year.

He’s been working on the kicking, his set shots and handball off areas. Just takes some, particularly latecomers to the game for the penny to drop.Adopting a true professional career approach was the message. Sammy loves the Bombers and doing the club off field stuff too (it seems).

He’s got the mail from Brad and the coaches. Let’s enjoy the ride.

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Happy to be proven wrong but as my friend @somo84 has pointed out in the Edwards thread stats don’t matter and it’s more a feel thing

I mean sure.
If you want to go on feeling then it was your other post that was silly.
Draper has clearly improved year-on-year, and did some things last year in the forward-line, backline, and around the ground that were not in his repertoire before that.

But statistically the wrongness is strongest in that one.

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Ha ha you smartarse!

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