Essendon ruckman Nick Bryan on rucking with Sam Draper in season 2025

Nick Bryan turned his back on suiters to re-sign with Essendon, but has only been rewarded with 19 games in five years. Here’s how he hopes to work in tandem with Sam Draper in 2025.

Essendon ruckman Nick Bryan is confident he can form a formidable partnership with Sam Draper this season as he looks to solidify his spot in a contract year.

Bryan has played just 19 senior games across five seasons at the Bombers, including only five games last year.

However, he featured alongside Draper in the final four matches of 2024 and is hopeful that will remain the template going forward.

Sam Draper and Nick Bryan wrestle in the ruck at Essendon pre-season training. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“Hopefully we can play two rucks. We did it late last season,” Bryan said.

“I enjoy playing with Drapes so hopefully that’s the plan.”

Draper has spent time training with the forwards over the off-season, with the secondary role likely to open up opportunities for Bryan to play more minutes in the ruck.

“He’s been good down forward, kicking goals and taking some nice marks down there,” Bryan said of Draper.

“He’s been working hard on his forward craft so hopefully we can see that this year.”

Bryan, 23, said his body “feels really good” after a gruelling summer on the training track which has seen him build his fitness base.

Many hours in previous seasons had been spent in the gym trying to add to his frame, but fitness is now the focus as he tips the scales at about 103kg.

Nick Bryan is aiming to become a first-choice ruck for the Bombers this season. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“This was probably the first year where I wasn’t eating and spending lots of time in the gym trying to put on weight,” Bryan said.

“I was trying to build a big fitness base and got a PB (personal best in the time trial), which was nice.

“Playing 19 games in five years is obviously not ideal considering I haven’t really been injured that much. It’s definitely been frustrating sitting behind some good players, but that’s just all part of it. It definitely kept me hungry and I’m still super motivated and keen to play some consistent AFL football.”

Bryan is out of contract at the end of this season, having last signed a two-year contract extension at the end of 2023.

But there is no rush to get an early deal done, with the 203cm big man hoping to let his football do the talking first this year.

“(There’s been) no early talks,” he said.

“We’ll see what happens. Hopefully I can push my case forward soon.”

Originally published as Essendon ruckman Nick Bryan on rucking with Sam Draper in season 2025