Crow call: Nicks makes phone pitch to Draper

3 months ago 28

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has phoned out of contract Essendon star Sam Draper to make a personal pitch to the ruckman to sign a long-term contract with the Crows.

Draper, who looms as one of the hottest properties for the upcoming trade period, has standing offers from Essendon and Brisbane, but the Crows have used their coach in an attempt to swoop in at the last minute.

Nicks was contacted by this masthead about the call, but he politely declined to comment, stating it was club policy that they didn’t speak about players at rival clubs.

New teammates? Sam Draper of the Bombers competes with Adelaide’s Reilly O’Brien.

The call, according to two sources close to Draper who spoke on the condition of anonymity, has blown the player away, and it now has him genuinely reconsidering the Crows as a potential destination.

Draper has not ruled out recommitting to Essendon, according to the sources. Competition sources say Essendon’s offer is a four-year contract, while the Lions are willing to offer five or six years to get the deal done.

Essendon have told Draper and his management that they’d like an answer sooner rather than later. Draper is an unrestricted free agent.

It’s unclear what the extent of Adelaide’s offer is, but Nicks made it clear to Draper that he was a priority signing for the club in the off season.

Nicks’ phone call comes just days after the Crows re-signed ruckman Reilly O’Brien for a further three seasons.

Draper, who turns 27 next month, has managed only 78 games in what has so far been an injury-riddled career.

Unless he signs a new contract at Essendon, Sam Draper will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

His best form had Bombers fans salivating that he could be one of the most dynamic big men in the game, but his career was once again halted in round six when he ruptured his Achilles against West Coast at Optus Stadium.

“I’ve had some dark moments the last couple of weeks, but I’m OK,” Draper said on his podcast 200 Plus after his surgery.

“I was devastated when it happened. I don’t reckon I’ve cried that much in my life for the first few days.

“(I) worked so hard all off season to get my body right, had a good pre-season, come into the best form of my career and have such high expectations for the year.

“It’s my contract year too … It was just a gutting feeling, and seeing the team needing me out there, it is such a hard one to take.”

Adelaide sit top of the ladder and the Crows still believe they are a chance of luring St Kilda superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who is considering a return home to South Australia.