Free agent Draper confirms club of choice

Essendon free agent Sam Draper has officially selected his new home, nominating the Brisbane Lions as his club of choice.

The ruckman confirmed with the Bombers last week that he would leave the club as a free agent and confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that his future lies up north.

Having deals on the table from the Lions, the Crows and the Bombers, AFL.com.au’s Cal Twomey has confirmed that Draper has opted to join the reigning premiers on a deal likely to land the Bombers a first-round compensation pick (likely to fall at Pick 6 in the upcoming draft).

With the Lions’ ageing ruckman stocks in Oscar McInerney and Darcy Fort, 26-year-old Draper provides the side with a long-term number one ruck option.