AFL Player # 2: Sam Draper - Knee surgery, 6-8 weeks - 14/5

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Yeah it's a good discussion - without Draper for an extended period, Goldstein is going to need a rest at some point. But finding the week is trickier than it sounds.

You'd think the next two weeks against 17th and 18th might be an option, but North being his old side and Nank is a big boy for Richmond. There is a fear of bringing in a cold Bryan to ruck solo.

I actually think maybe leaving Goldstein home for the Gold Coast trip might be the best one. Big ask for Bryan to then go up against Witts, but I suppose if we like Bryan, we can't be too worried about who he is going up against - we either trust him or we don't.

Having said all that - if we rested him for Gold Coast, then we only have one more game anyway after that before our bye. So maybe he can just soldier through?

Who knows - interesting one to watch.
 
Bryan will get his chance in the next few weeks.

Rest Goldy for Richmond so he is fresh for Carlton.
I would bring in Bryan for North to take a large share of the ruck and give Goldy a semi rest, possibly a sub out potentially if we are in control on the scoreboard. I think Wright is a good chance to cash in vs norths defence so happy to leave him as a stay at home forward to find some more form. If Bryan performs keep him in the side. Who goes out for Bryan? Probably out of Hind/Davey for me.
 
Yeah it's a good discussion - without Draper for an extended period, Goldstein is going to need a rest at some point. But finding the week is trickier than it sounds.

You'd think the next two weeks against 17th and 18th might be an option, but North being his old side and Nank is a big boy for Richmond. There is a fear of bringing in a cold Bryan to ruck solo.

I actually think maybe leaving Goldstein home for the Gold Coast trip might be the best one. Big ask for Bryan to then go up against Witts, but I suppose if we like Bryan, we can't be too worried about who he is going up against - we either trust him or we don't.

Having said all that - if we rested him for Gold Coast, then we only have one more game anyway after that before our bye. So maybe he can just soldier through?

Who knows - interesting one to watch.

dunno

hit fitness seems absolutely elite. He is showing no signs he needs a rest.
 

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Averaging under 10 stats, just over 15 hitouts - has kicked 2 goals for the season and has take more than 2 grabs once.

Yes, he’s more than what shows up on the stat sheet - but I don’t think he’s a massive loss, especially based on this seasons form.

Goldy with 2MP/Bryan will be fine.
 
Gotta say I wasn't at all unhappy when I heard this news. This clown being injured means Brad can't pick him, which means no more clown antics ****ing up costing us matches. Think we're better with one ruck, and now Bryan might get a game. Funny how 3-4 weeks ago this would of been a season ending disaster, but now who cares?
 
Gotta say I wasn't at all unhappy when I heard this news. This clown being injured means Brad can't pick him, which means no more clown antics ******* up costing us matches. Think we're better with one ruck, and now Bryan might get a game. Funny how 3-4 weeks ago this would of been a season ending disaster, but now who cares?
Here I was hoping he got his body right after half a year off football and no preseason, I guess I’ve got to become more positive and start seeing the silver lining in the long term injuries
 
Draper is over rated, erratic and injury prone

Averages 21 hit outs, 0.4 goals and under 10 possessions a game…and in the 5 years he's been at the club he can only manage 12 games a year so there must be some questions around his body- he's out again with a long-term injury this year so the trend continues...

Don’t mind his swagger and attitude but he’s not even in the top dozen or so ruckman in the comp…

I’d gladly sell him if the right offer came along...
 
Draper is just about to come into peak ruckman age, the injuries are a concern but you don't sell ruckman who are just about to peak unless you're St Kilda.
 

’That’s the s— thing’: Draper responds to podcast controversy, apologises to Dons, parents​

A chastened Sam Draper has reassured Essendon – and his parents – he won’t be making any negative public comments about rival clubs.

A chastened Sam Draper has reassured Essendon – and his parents – he won’t be making any negative public comments about rival clubs after “learning” his lesson over his claims that several senior Western Bulldogs players would leave if Luke Beveridge remains coach.

Draper made the comments on the Clubby Sports 200+ podcast last month – where players were acting as journalists – which resulted in some tense talks between the Bombers and Bulldogs.

The injured Bombers’ ruckman contacted Beveridge to apologise for the comments after senior Essendon officials expressed their disappointment to him.

Draper made his return to the podcast this week, saying he won’t repeat the mistake and hoped the rest of the AFL competition heeds his warning.

“I couldn’t care if the media wanted to blow up things, but the club was disappointed with me,” Draper said. “That’s the s---- thing, and also my parents as well. They weren’t happy.”

“If I had my time again, I obviously wouldn’t have said it.

“I feel like it is a good learning for me, and probably for the whole of the AFL landscape.

“If someone from another team was talking about my team or my coach like that, I wouldn’t have been happy, so I have definitely had some learnings from it.”

Draper hasn’t played since Anzac Day and had knee surgery earlier this month which will keep him out for at least six weeks.
 

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’That’s the s— thing’: Draper responds to podcast controversy, apologises to Dons, parents​

A chastened Sam Draper has reassured Essendon – and his parents – he won’t be making any negative public comments about rival clubs.

A chastened Sam Draper has reassured Essendon – and his parents – he won’t be making any negative public comments about rival clubs after “learning” his lesson over his claims that several senior Western Bulldogs players would leave if Luke Beveridge remains coach.

Draper made the comments on the Clubby Sports 200+ podcast last month – where players were acting as journalists – which resulted in some tense talks between the Bombers and Bulldogs.

The injured Bombers’ ruckman contacted Beveridge to apologise for the comments after senior Essendon officials expressed their disappointment to him.

Draper made his return to the podcast this week, saying he won’t repeat the mistake and hoped the rest of the AFL competition heeds his warning.

“I couldn’t care if the media wanted to blow up things, but the club was disappointed with me,” Draper said. “That’s the s---- thing, and also my parents as well. They weren’t happy.”

“If I had my time again, I obviously wouldn’t have said it.

“I feel like it is a good learning for me, and probably for the whole of the AFL landscape.

“If someone from another team was talking about my team or my coach like that, I wouldn’t have been happy, so I have definitely had some learnings from it.”

Draper hasn’t played since Anzac Day and had knee surgery earlier this month which will keep him out for at least six weeks.
He got some of those learnings
 
In practice Draper was playing as a striker (Dusty/Danger type M/F) but as a ruck/FF to start the year.

Allowed Wright to push up to CHF (where he’s at his best)

Him being out just shows how badly we need a FF. Hope he’s back for finals because we will need him
 
In practice Draper was playing as a striker (Dusty/Danger type M/F) but as a ruck/FF to start the year.

Allowed Wright to push up to CHF (where he’s at his best)

Him being out just shows how badly we need a FF. Hope he’s back for finals because we will need him
Hes also statistically our best clearance ruckman. Missing him and duursma alot atm
 

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