‘Absolutely absurd’: Sam Draper’s stunning goal of the year contender

Essendon ruckman Sam Draper has pulled off a late contender for goal of the year during Sunday’s victory over the Gold Coast Suns.

Sam Draper of the Bombers. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Sam Draper, take a bow.

The Essendon ruckman has pulled off a late contender for goal of the year during Sunday’s 14.19 (103) to 8.7 (55) victory over the Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium.

The Bombers were leading by 36 points in the fourth quarter when Draper emerged from a centre-bounce ruck contest with ball in hand before sprinting towards the posts.

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The 23-year-old passed the Sherrin towards teammate Matt Guelfi, who quickly handballed it back to the long-haired Bombers cult figure inside 50.

But the best was yet to come, with Draper breaking a Charlie Ballard tackle and kicking an audacious banana on the run from 20m out to send the black-and-red faithful into raptures.

It was pure magic.

“That’s my favourite goal of the year,” three-time All-Australian Gerard Healy announced on Fox Footy.

Former Carlton star Eddie Betts continued: “I’ve got to say, watching a ruckman do stuff like that there, running out from the middle, and looking at the celebrations I’m going to have to say goal of the year. The crowd is going absolutely bonkers down here. If I had to pick goal of the year, that’s goal of the year by far at the moment.”

Former Melbourne midfielder Nathan Jones told AFL Nation: “He is one of the most promising talents in the competition.”

This is absolutely absurd from the big man, good god. https://t.co/a9YBvDpd2S

— Cam Tyeson (@camtyeson) July 17, 2022

That's gotta close to goal of the year! #AFLDonsSuns

— Akash Fotedar (@akashfotedar5) July 17, 2022

That's just about the craziest goal you will ever see.
Draper, you are one different unit indeed.
And we love you. #GoDons#AFLDonsSuns

— Alex Fair (@AJFair85) July 17, 2022

Essendon continued to play the role of top-eight wrecking ball with relish on Sunday, taking down yet another finals aspirant in Gold Coast by 48 points.

After North Melbourne stunned eighth-placed Richmond on Saturday, Gold Coast had a golden opportunity to draw level with the Tigers on nine wins, but with so much at stake, they produced their worst performance of the season, heavily damaging their dreams of a maiden finals campaign.

The Bombers cracked 90 points just twice in their first 12 games, but have now done so in each of their last five matches, and if it wasn’t for their inaccuracy, the final margin against Gold Coast would have been a lot larger.

Four of the Suns’ eight goals came in a five-minute hot patch in the first quarter, but outside of that it was all Essendon all day, with the hosts kicking seven of the first eight goals after quarter-time to crush Gold Coast’s resistance.

The Suns fought back from 40 points down last week to beat Richmond, but there would be no such heroics this time.

Jake Stringer of the Bombers celebrates kicking a goal. Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Essendon set up the victory with their ballistic run and dash from the likes of Mason Redman, Andrew McGrath and Nick Hind off half-back, and the Suns were completely incapable of shutting it down.

The Bombers had the ball on a string, smashing the Suns in disposals (408-293), contested possessions (140-118) and marks (117-91), but still managed to maintain significant pressure and out-tackled the Suns 52-47.

Redman was outstanding all day, continuing his breakout year with 34 disposals, 10 marks, 643 metres gained, 11 intercepts and nine score involvements.

McGrath celebrated his recent re-signing with 29 touches, while Zach Merrett (36), Dylan Shiel (29) and Hind (25) were also very effective.

— with Ronny Lerner, NCA NewsWire

Originally published as ‘Absolutely absurd’: Sam Draper’s stunning goal of the year contender