Essendon have picks four and seven in this year’s heavily compromised national draft (based on current ladder order) with their decision to trade out their 2024 first-round pick for Melbourne’s 2025 first-rounder, rather than risk a bid being made on the NGA prospect before their pick had been used, set to yield a positive result.

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At the start of the year, the decision facing the Bombers was more stark, with potentially big offers coming for Draper. Two competition sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, claimed Essendon would weigh up whether losing Draper to receive free agency compensation either after their first-round pick or at the end of first round could be turned into a positive.

The injury has caused Draper’s value to drop, however – diminishing the likelihood they would receive a first-round draft selection if they lost him to another club.

Bomber pair Ben Hobbs (who is out of contract) and Elijah Tsatas, who is signed until 2026 but playing VFL, could also potentially be available for trade at season’s end, meaning the club could collect enough points to match any bids that might come for NGA graduates Hussein El Achkar and Adam Sweid.

Two competition sources, who wished to remain anonymous, believe Draper wants to remain with Essendon, who have been forced to dip into their back-up stocks with rookie Vigo Visentini to make his debut against Fremantle ruck pair Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson on Thursday night. Mid-season draft pick Lachlan Blakiston played against Geelong, and veteran Todd Goldstein has been gallant in eight matches since Draper’s injury.

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The ruck merry-go-round is certain to move quick this season, with most eyes on whether Carlton’s Tom De Koning accepts a godfather offer from St Kilda to spring it into action.

West Coast are keen to bolster their ruck stocks and are continuing to monitor the market that includes Adelaide free agent Reilly O’Brien (who is unsigned despite being in good form with the Crows) and could include several other talls once De Koning’s intentions are known.

The Eagles are one club watching whether Collingwood can renegotiate their existing deal with premiership ruckman Darcy Cameron – who is contracted until the end of 2026 – to reflect his consistent high-level performances in the past two years.

Cameron is keen to remain at the Magpies but could become a target for other clubs if they believe he is a chance to be prised out. His premiership teammate Mason Cox is also out of the side and out of contract.

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Marc Pittonet is contracted with Carlton until 2027 and could fill the breach if De Koning departs, while St Kilda’s No.1 ruckman Rowan Marshall, who is contracted for next year, may attract interest from other clubs if De Koning joins the Saints. Marshall has not given any indication he would depart the Saints if De Koning arrived.

The Western Bulldogs were also looking for a back-up for Tim English (who has been stoic this season) during the off-season. Ruckmen such as Port Adelaide’s Ivan Soldo and North Melbourne’s Callum Coleman-Jones could be available at season’s end.

Rowell decision has everyone waiting, including a key Hawk

While five clubs wait for Matt Rowell to make his decision on whether to continue his career with the Suns, the future of out-of-contract midfielders such as Hawthorn’s James Worpel – who is yet to re-sign with the Hawks – remains uncertain.

Collingwood, Geelong, the Western Bulldogs and Essendon all met with Rowell last year before he entered the final season of his contract with Gold Coast, and the in-form 23-year-old has been in no rush to decide what he wants to do.

That means those clubs who might be in the market for an inside beast, such as Rowell, are not yet prepared to chase a player such as Worpel hard until they know whether they have a gap to fill.

Given he is a restricted free agent and the next-best uncontracted midfield bull in the game, those clubs might pivot towards Worpel if Rowell re-signed with the Suns, as many expect him to do.

Of course, if Rowell decides to leave the Suns, they will have to consider chasing a quality inside midfielder, too.

Worpel is the best uncontracted player among a range of options that could include Essendon midfield pair Ben Hobbs and Elijah Tsatas, the Giants’ Xavier O’Halloran (who the Western Bulldogs were interested in last year), Geelong’s Mitch Knevitt, Adelaide’s Matt Crouch, Gold Coast’s Brayden Fiorini, and Sydney’s Angus Sheldrick.

Worpel is happy at the Hawks – who have tabled the type of offer that starts, rather than ends, negotiation – however he is in no rush to re-sign. Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell lamented his absence after last week’s win against the Crows, and the club is keen to keep him. “I think we missed ‘Worps’ around the coalface and the clearance battle,” Mitchell said.

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