Bombers’ Sam Draper reaches out to Luke Beveridge over podcast comments

Essendon ruckman Sam Draper has reached out to Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge after he made comments on a podcast about the Dogs’ list.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 25: Nik Cox (left) and Sam Draper of the Bombers celebrate during the 2024 AFL Round 07 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 25, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Chastened Essendon big man Sam Draper has reached out to Luke Beveridge in an effort to to apologise for his recent podcast comments that a number of senior players would depart the club players if the Western Bulldogs coach remained in the role next season.

It follows a day of discussions between the Bombers and the Bulldogs after the emergence of Draper’s comments on the Clubby Sports 200+ podcast in a segment where he was pretending to be an AFL journalist.

The Herald Sun understands Draper was “remorseful” and “apologetic”, acknowledging his comments did not fit the club’s values of humility and respect.

Senior Essendon players and coaches sat Draper down on Wednesday to remind him of his obligations to the club, which he has accepted.

He won’t be sanctioned, but has agreed that he erred with his decision to take part in the jovial banter

Luke Beveridge has hit back at Sam Draper. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Draper had said on the podcast: “I’ve got a big call about the Doggies. If Bevo’s still there, there’ll be some players requesting trades”, claiming that injured Bulldog Bailey Smith would be seeking a new home next year.

Other senior Essendon executives also spoke with key Bulldogs figures this week about Draper’s comments.

Beveridge addressed the “bizarre” matter at his press conference on Thursday.

“The people who became aware, who were close to him (Draper) at the football club, were extremely alarmed and reached out to me to express their apologies,” Beveridge said.

“But ultimately, as I have said in the past, my No. 1 concern is our players are taken care of and supported and the critical lens that’s aimed at them week to week, I’m always happy when they are in a good space. It’s unusual.

“We all think certain things at times with the emotion of the game, we are connected to many, many people across the code, but do we express them in the public domain? Normally, we don’t.

“This is one where I am sure he’s had a think about it and wouldn’t do it again.”

BEVERDIGE CALLS OUT ‘BIZARRE’ DRAPER COMMENTS

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has called out “bizarre” claims from Essendon ruckman Sam Draper that players would want out of the club if he stayed on beyond this season but was unmoved by the suggestions injured midfield star Bailey Smith was “gone”.

Draper was given a dressing down by Essendon officials and teammates after the Bulldogs expressed dismay when the big man told the Clubby Sports 200+ podcast that he had a “big call about the Doggies”.

“If Bevo’s still there, there’ll be some players requesting trades,” he said before declaring Smith, who is off contract at the end of the season and recovering from an ACL injury, would leave.

Beveridge on Thursday was reticent to go into depth in a response but said people at the Bombers were “alarmed” enough to apologise and hoped one of his players wouldn’t do the same thing.

“We break new ground all the time, it was bizarre to me,” he said.

“The people who became aware, who were close to him at the football club, were extremely alarmed and reached out to me to express their apologies. But ultimately, as I have said in the past, my No. 1 concern is our players are taken care of and supported and the critical lens that’s aimed at them week to week, I’m always happy when they are in a good space. It’s unusual.

Essendon has been forced to apologise to a rival club after controversial comments from one of its biggest stars. https://t.co/5zYfOfGqUb@_AMcCormack7@7AFL#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/jNGQTBJi8i

— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) May 1, 2024

“We all think certain things at times with the emotion of the game, we are connected to many, many people across the code, but do we express them in the public domain? Normally, we don’t. This is one where I am sure he’s had a think about it and wouldn’t do it again.”

Draper isn’t the only one to suggest Smith, who is back running on grass having had reduced contact hours at the club during the early rehab of his season-ending knee injury, would not be at the Bulldogs next season.

But Beveridge said while his confidence around keeping the 23-year-old had not wavered, that speculation was not ne, or unexpected.

“I think there’s a few people saying it and when there’s someone like Bailey who is an attractive commodity, he’s out of contract, it’s only natural there would be speculation about his future and others,” he said.

“We just think it’s part of the process.

Injured Bulldog Bailey Smith is expected to move to another club in 2025. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“The good things is Bailey is back running on the grass … feeling good about himself, he’s progressing. That will help with his peace of mind, feeling really positive about his return which will be next year.

“I just think it’s a natural thing someone like Bailey would be spoken about.”

The Bulldogs expect to get gun forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan back for Sunday’s clash with Hawthorn having lost leading goalkicker Cody Weightman to an elbow injury.

Originally published as Bombers’ Sam Draper reaches out to Luke Beveridge over podcast comments