ESSENDON ruckman Sam Draper is tipped to form a crucial part of the club\u2019s next generation.<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old has only just returned from a syndesmosis sustained against Port Adelaide in round 2, with Andrew Phillips deputising in his absence.<\/p>\n
Bombers football boss Josh Mahoney – who recently spent time at Melbourne in a similar role \u2013 said many of Draper\u2019s traits reminded him of current Dees captain Max Gawn.<\/p>\n
He said the young ruckman looms as a \u201creally important\u201d player for Essendon in the future, saying he was now in need of more game time at AFL level to further his development as a player.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just want to get him out [on the field] there a bit more,\u201d he said on AFL Nation.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s only played a couple of games back now after being injured in round 2, he has such a presence.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe reminds me so much of [Max Gawn] in the early days and the impact he can have. If he can track along as well as Maxy has, he\u2019s going to be a really important player for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Draper comes from a soccer background, having landed at Essendon with the first pick of the 2016 Rookie Draft.<\/p>\n
After several years of development at VFL level, he made his AFL debut last year, while he\u2019s now played five games so far this season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ESSENDON ruckman Sam Draper is tipped to form a crucial part of the club\u2019s next generation. The 22-year-old has only just returned from a syndesmosis sustained against Port Adelaide in round 2, with Andrew Phillips deputising in his absence. Bombers football boss Josh Mahoney – who recently spent time at Melbourne in a similar role […]<\/p>\n