Victorian clubs prepare offers for premiership Lion as Draper succumbs to injury again

4 weeks ago 14

Victorian clubs are expected to line up with big-money offers for Brisbane’s dual premiership playmaker Zac Bailey, who has left open the possibility of exploring his free agency options.

The news comes as Lions recruit Sam Draper, who left Essendon in frustration after years interrupted by injury, faces up to eight weeks on the sidelines with a stress reaction in his right foot.

Former Lions coach Leigh Matthews congratulates forward Zac Bailey after last year’s grand final win.

Draper had scans after missing the Lions’ intra-club match on the Sunshine Coast on Friday complaining of a sore foot.

The Lions said the scans revealed a low-level reaction, so Draper was put in a moon boot.

He will take “about six to eight weeks” to recover, the club said.

Draper moved to the Brisbane Lions in the off-season, determined for fresh start and to be the ready-made replacement for ruckman Oscar McInerney.

That all might still come to fruition, but he now faces a delayed start to the season, which starts for the Lions on March 7 at the Gabba against the Western Bulldogs.

Draper hasn’t played a senior game since suffering an Achilles injury against West Coast in round six last year when he was a Bomber.

The latest time frame suggests he might spend close to a full 12 months on the sidelines before making his AFL return. Clubs routinely prefer players to have match practice before playing senior games.

It has been an eventful off-season for the Lions with Lachie Neale stepping down as co-captain for personal reasons after his very public marriage breakdown.

Sam Draper is unlikely to be seen on field for his new club, the Brisbane Lions, early in the season.

The club has already said they will not fight to retain the veteran free agent if he decides to return to Western Australia to be closer to his two children after his estranged wife Jules returned to her home state.

They will also wait for Bailey to determine whether he wants to remain with the club or explore his options as a free agent.

Essendon are certain to be among the interested parties, but there will be no shortage of suitors for Bailey who kicked 42 goals last season, his fifth consecutive year kicking more than 20 goals.

The matchwinning forward has not been able to find a spot inside the Lions’ brilliant premiership-winning midfield.

The 26-year-old free agent has already made it clear to the Lions he will not be rushing into a decision, following the same path as Hugh McCluggage who eventually re-signed in 2024 amid huge demand from Victorian clubs.

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.