Young Bomber Sam Draper says he feels ready to make his debut in the senior side this year.
Draper impressed in his first season at the club in 2017, putting together a number of strong performances in the VFL as a ruckman.
The former soccer player has since started his second season with a more attacking focus and thinks he can prove himself at the next level in 2018.
“I don’t really feel like I’m just a developing player any more, I feel I am ready to play some senior football this year,” Draper said.
“When that opportunity comes I’ll definitely grab it with two hands.”
The 19-year-old is expecting to show more versatility this season as he pushes into the forward line.
“This pre-season a big focus on me was to keep developing, playing as much ruck as I can, but also learning my forward craft as well.
“I think this year in the VFL I’ll be playing a lot of time down forward, so just really embracing it and just getting used to all of the structures and how to play forward.
“Every week (ruck coach) Mark Jamar is in and he’s helping me out with my ruck craft and that sort of thing, but I really am embracing playing that forward role now, because it can add a few more strings to my bow.”
Draper was a part of Essendon’s VFL side that last weekend kicked off its season with an impressive 102-point thrashing of Frankston, and said getting on the board with a goal was a nice confidence boost to start his second year.
“The brand of footy we played was a good way to start the year.
“They (Frankston) were a pretty young side, they came out pretty hot early but we ended up running over them towards the end of the game, which was good.
“I was playing forward all game, but ended up getting one (goal) in the last quarter, a bit of junk time, but that’s alright I’ll still take it.”
He said while the senior Bombers have had a tough fortnight with back-to-back losses to Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs respectively, he expects the team to hit back.
“I think the main thing is really to move forward from it,” Draper said.
“There are a few things that we need to sharpen up on, but I think we can bounce back this week.”
