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.
Sam Draper becomes a free agent at the end of this season.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
“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.
Brad Scott spoke about his desire to keep Draper at Essendon, but said he didn’t want to put pressure on the ruckman to rush to a decision on his next contractCredit: Getty Images
“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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