Recommitted Sam Draper [re-signed for 4 years]

[Lore]

He did his knee in round 8 last year, aiming to be ready by round 1 according to the re-signing article on the club website.

“It was frustrating to get injured this year, I thought I was hitting some form, but I’m still young at the end of the day.

“I’ll move onto next year and hopefully be fine for the start of round one.”

Draper's eyes on the future - essendonfc.com.au

Exciting young ruckman Sam Draper says he has confidence that the club’s “exciting young group” is getting where it wants to be.

www.essendonfc.com.au

If he follows the same program as Begley he'll be playing his first full VFL match around the 10th of May (a full year after he injured his ACL). Begley was named emergency the week after that, but didn't play AFL until two weeks later. Depending on how the fixture is set up that's going to be at least round 6 or 7 before he's available to play at AFL level.