Essendon may be preparing for life without Sam Draper, with Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy reportedly on the Bombers’ radar ahead of a potential trade period shake-up.
Despite signing a six-year extension with the Dockers in late 2023, Darcy’s place in the side appears increasingly uncertain as Luke Jackson thrives in the number-one ruck role.
The 27-year-old has battled injury in recent years and was managed out of Fremantle’s Round 15 clash against, ironically, Essendon.
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“Is he gettable?”
Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary said on air: “He’s got a five-year contract left, between $750,000 and $800,000 a season… I think Sean Darcy will be on the lookout for a new club.”
Triple M Perth’s Ryan Daniels added that interest in Darcy is growing across the league: “Out there in clubland, they’re going ‘hey, is he available?’… Keep an eye on Essendon, because Sam Draper will likely probably go to Adelaide… I think they will ask the question.”
Daniels stressed that while Darcy hasn’t yet asked to leave, the situation is becoming harder to ignore. “This isn’t Sean going ‘I want to leave’… but teams are now starting to go, ‘is he gettable? Can we get him out of there?’”
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd also told Footy Classified: “There’s many who fear that Sam Draper may well move to another club in this off-season.”