Sam Draper won’t play against Geelong on Friday night as Essendon’s ruckman continues to build into the season, while the club has taken a cautious approach with its top draftee.
The Bombers have refused to put a timeline on Draper’s groin injury, only indicating he “continues to build toward the 2024 season”.
Draper had hoped to play some practice matches prior to the 2024 season, but won’t return via GMHBA Stadium on Friday. Essendon earlier this week offered the possibility of him playing in a VFL curtain raiser on the same day.
The 25-year-old played only one game after Round 13 last year before being sent for groin surgery and said late in 2023 he was hoping to play Round 1.
Recruit Todd Goldstein has been named in the ruck and Draper’s availability for Round 1 is now under a significant cloud.
No.10 draft pick Nate Caddy will also miss a second successive practice game with soreness after an awkward landing at training. Jake Kelly and Ben Hobbs won’t return until the early weeks of the 2024 season, while Dylan Shiel is still some weeks away from full training,
In better news for Bombers fans, Jordan Ridley and Peter Wright will play Geelong and make their first appearances for 2024 after respective injury concerns.
Their opponents, Geelong, have ruled out Ollie Henry after the former Magpie rolled his ankle.
However, the club describes his non-selection as a “precaution”.
Both club’s last practice match comes at 5:10pm on Friday before Round 1 gets underway a fortnight later.
