Brisbane recruit Sam Draper won’t be available for the start of the Lions’ premiership defence after suffering a recent foot injury.
A “stress reaction” has interrupted Draper’s maiden pre-season in Queensland, with the club discovering the ailment midway through the club’s recent community camp.
Currently sporting a moon boot, Draper is facing up to eight weeks on the sidelines.
The injury will mean Draper misses the Lions’ season opener against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, March 7, while the ex-Essendon ruckman is also no certainty for Brisbane’s succeeding clash with Sydney a week later.
Draper was eyeing a return from an achilles injury that brought his 2025 season to an abrupt end in April.
Having initially been in the mix to play Opening Round, Draper is back on the sidelines and has been dealt a delay to his first season with Brisbane.
“Sammy Draper didn’t play (our most recent match simulation). He got a sore foot the day prior,” coach Chris Fagan confirmed to SEN Tassie.
“We’ve had some scans on that, and unfortunately he’s got a stress reaction in his foot. That’s going to mean he won’t be available for selection until the second week of the AFL season.
Sam Draper at pre-season training with Brisbane in 2026 (Image via Brisbane FC/Instagram)
“That’s slowed him a little bit.”
Draper moved to Brisbane via free agency over the off-season, departing the Bombers after 79 AFL games.
The ruckman joined West Coast’s Oscar Allen in making the switch to the Queensland capital, who has overcome his own injury woes since having his time with the Eagles brought to a close.
Brisbane is scheduled to face Carlton for a match simulation clash on February 18 to open the club’s pre-season schedule, with a Community Series meeting with Gold Coast to follow eight days later.Â