‘Extraordinary’ twist over Bomber after rival’s phone call; four-club free agent race erupts: Whispers

Another rival coach has made a pitch for a free agent — and it has the player seriously reconsidering his options.

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Plus Geelong ramps up its bid for a midfield, while three Pies veterans are set to sign on.

Get the latest player movement news and updates in AFL Trade Whispers!

LATEST RIVAL COACH PITCH HAS STAR ‘SERIOUSLY RECONSIDERING’ HIS OPTIONS

Adelaide hasn’t given up on acquiring Sam Draper, with coach Matthew Nicks personally calling the Essendon ruck as part of a pitch to lure him to the club, reports Sam McClure from The Age.

An unrestricted free agent this year — and sidelined for the rest of the season with an Achilles injury — Draper this year has weighing up interest from both Brisbane and Adelaide, while the Bombers have also tabled a four-year offer for him to stay.

It had been tipped in recent reports that Draper was choosing between joining the Lions – who are willing to offer the ruck up to a six-year deal – or staying at Essendon, with the latter’s offer reportedly less lucrative.

But speaking on Channel 9’s Footy Classified on Monday night, McClure said a phone call from Nicks had Draper reassessing his options.

“This is quite an extraordinary set of circumstances, because Sam Draper was picking between Essendon and the Brisbane Lions – both of which had offered long-term deals – but a phone call from Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks on the weekend directly to Sam Draper may have just changed things for that player,” McClure said.

“And it now has him, as we sit here tonight, seriously reconsidering the Adelaide Crows as a suitor – such was the vigour and excitement that Matthew Nicks had for Sam Draper on that phone call.

“This is really interesting, given that the Adelaide Crows have just re-signed Reilly O’Brien … But this is a club very much, in Essendon, which has been on its knees, Draper yes he doesn’t play all the time but he’s a star at his best. He could turn around and say no to Brisbane, say no to Adelaide and stay with the Essendon Football Club.”

Sam Draper of the Bombers. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

McClure added should Draper leave Essendon, it’d unlikely net the Bombers a Band A free agency compensation selection, which would be Pick 5 as it stands. Club legend Matthew Lloyd then said he’d rather retain Draper than gain a second-round compo pick.

9 News chief football reporter Tom Morris added on X that Nicks’ call to Draper “reaffirms Adelaide’s view that O’Brien and Draper can co-exist”. O’Brien himself turned down rival interest in recent weeks to ink a three-year extension.

The move from Nicks, who declined to comment when contacted by Footy Classified, is the latest coach meeting with a rival free agent to come to light this season.

Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell caught up with West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen earlier this year, while Collingwood coach Craig McRae last week confirmed to reporters he’d recently met with Carlton defender Jack Silvagni.

Bombers chief executive Craig Vozzo late last month reaffirmed his club’s desire to retain Draper.

“We put a pretty strong offer to Sam, which indicates we really want to keep him. That’s out position,” Vozzo told 3AW Football.

“He’s in decisi0n-making phase. We’re doing all we can to have the decision fall our way.”

CATS RAMP UP BID FOR FREE AGENT

Geelong has made an official offer to Hawthorn free agent James Worpel, reports Herald Sun chief football writer and Fox Footy First Crack host Jay Clark.

Worpel, who’s played 142 games in eight seasons at the Hawks, in 2023 signed a two-year extension that got him to free agency, which he’ll be eligible for at the end of this season.

Several clubs, including Melbourne, St Kilda and Geelong, have been linked to Worpel throughout the year.

But with the Cats on the hunt for more clearance-winning support for Tom Atkins, Clark reported for the Herald Sun that Geelong had tabled a four-year offer for Worpel, which was “considered an attractive pitch and matches the contract Hawthorn”.

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While Hawthorn would like to retain Worpel, the club is also eyeing a big fish from a rival club, with the likes of Harley Reid and Zak Butters reportedly in their sights over the next 12 months.

Clark on Sunday night questioned whether Hawthorn, too, would be the ideal destination for Norm Smith Medallist Christian Petracca – whose centre bounce attendance numbers at Melbourne have dropped significantly in recent weeks – should he wish to leave the Demons.

“Does he at 29 years of age still think he can be that superstar on-baller? “Because if he does, maybe that has to be at another club. We talked a lot about Collingwood and Carlton last year, is the best fit for him Hawthorn?” Clark asked on First Crack.

“They have all the key forwards. But we see Will Day go down with the foot injury, which is an absolute disaster. Jai Newcombe has had a so-so year.

“What is it they need to compliment and round out this side to make Hawthorn a genuine premiership contender? Is it a powerful midfielder?”

PIES TRIO TO SIGN ON

A trio of Collingwood veterans are set to officially re-sign with the club in the coming days, according to 9 News chief football reporter Tom Morris.

Speaking on 9 News Melbourne on Monday night, Morris said Scott Pendlebury, 37, had agreed to terms to play on in 2026, with a formal signing expected in the coming days.

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It means Pendlebury, who’s played 420 matches, will play on into a 21st AFL season, giving him the opportunity to surpass Brent Harvey’s VFL/AFL games record of 432 next year.

Morris added that fellow premiership Pies Steele Sidebottom and Jeremy Howe were also expected to re-sign soon.

Sidebottom, 34, on Thursday night against Hawthorn will play his 350th AFL match, while 35-year-old Howe (268 games) has been sidelined since Round 18 due to injury.

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