Former Bomber Sam Draper\u2019s characteristics have him being likened to another ex-Essendon star who made the move to Brisbane, the mercurial Joe Daniher.<\/p>\n
One of the Lions\u2019 prized off-season recruits, Draper will take on his former club on Saturday when Brisbane meets the Bombers at Marvel Stadium.<\/p>\n
The towering 27-year-old ruckman has wasted no time in making a major impression at the Lions, on and off the field. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe thing that\u2019s jumped out for me the most is he\u2019s so invested in everyone else and wants to make everyone else get better,\u201d Lions star Cam Rayner said of Draper.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor someone coming in from a different club and trying something different, moving to a different state \u2026 he\u2019s just been really, really good at that, which has been great.\u201d<\/p>\n
The now retired Daniher made a similar move to Brisbane from Essendon in 2021, with his presence and form playing a huge part in the Lions\u2019 premiership success in 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cSam\u2019s very similar to Joey,\u201d Rayner said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s really level-headed. It doesn\u2019t look like that from the outside, but a lot of boys have said that.
\u201cHe\u2019s really witty and really invested in the team and looking to learn to get better.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s going to be pretty excited playing against his old team this weekend, and hopefully he gets a nice reception from all the old Essendon fans.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lions coach Chris Fagan described Draper as a \u201cgregarious, happy-go-lucky sort of a guy\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just imagine he\u2019s looking forward to the opportunity to play against his old teammates,\u201d Fagan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a much-loved player at that club, and I imagine he still is. We love him equally here, and he\u2019s having a really great impact for us.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was probably a little bit slow to get going in the first couple of weeks, but he\u2019s certainly picked up since then.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis ability to make the ball around the ground, his ruck work \u2026 our centre bounces have improved out of sight this year. He\u2019s having a big impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fagan also praised Draper\u2019s fellow ruckman Darcy Fort.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe two of them are a great combination. (Fort) has been terrifically good as well. We\u2019re very fortunate at the moment to have those two guys playing in the ruck and playing well,\u201d the Lions mentor said.<\/p>\n
The premiers \u2013 who will hand Cody Curtin his AFL debut after the long-term loss of Oscar Allen (broken foot) \u2013 are chasing back-to-back wins on Saturday after last weekend\u2019s 52-point disposal of Adelaide.<\/p>\n
The Bombers, who have only tasted victory once in seven matches this season, will be desperate to bounce back after an embarrassing 77-point loss to Collingwood last Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got total respect of what they are trying to do, and we need to turn up like we did the other night against Adelaide and not be one-week wonders with our pressure,\u201d Fagan said.<\/p>\n