Essendon coy on Lions move on injured big man Sam Draper
‘I’d like to think that I would know before most.’
7news.com.auHere’s the latest on Sam Draper (AFL) based on recent reporting:
- Draper is dealing with a foot issue that sidelined him at the start of the Brisbane Lions’ season. Reports indicate a stress reaction in his right foot and a projected return in the early weeks of the season, potentially around rounds 2–3, which would push his debut back from the Opening Round [source: AFL.com.au; 7News].[1][2]
- The injury update notes he was seen in a moon boot during pre-season, and the club expected an 6–8 week setback from the injury before resuming match play.[2][1]
- Prior coverage around mid-2025 discussed Draper’s move from Essendon to Brisbane as a high-profile recruitment, but that narrative is separate from his current injury status in 2026 and should be treated as historical context rather than a live update.[3][4]
If you’d like, I can pull the exact latest articles from those outlets and summarize any new developments (e.g., expected return date, training progress, or re-injury news) with citations.