Essendon Football Club is currently grappling with several pressing concerns including player injuries and contract negotiations as they prepare for the 2025 season.
One of the club's notable young talents, Nik Cox, is facing challenges due to prolonged concussion symptoms suffered from an incident during training late last year. According to Essendon football boss Dan McPherson, Cox is currently "treading water" as he struggles to bounce back from these symptoms. "He’s having a little bit of an issue with the concussion and he hasn’t been able to shake (the symptoms)," McPherson told Wide World of Sports. He emphasized the seriousness of Cox's situation as the young player has been unable to fully engage with activities for months. "He’s in a little bit of a holding pattern at the moment and unfortunately we can’t get him going. You have to treat those symptoms seriously...he's treading water a little bit," he added.
Cox, who was drafted with Pick 8 in the 2021 National Draft, showed great potential during his inaugural season, completing all games. His progress has been marred by injuries, limiting him to merely 11 matches over the past two seasons. After appearing set to advance his career, he sustained the concussion, which has now created uncertainty around his return timeline. The 22-year-old looked forward to revitalizing his form after 20 outings last year but now faces another setback as the Bombers gear up for their upcoming matches. The club has one last pre-season bout against Geelong on February 25, before facing Gold Coast to kick off the regular season.
Meanwhile, the Essendon ruckman Sam Draper is making headlines with his contract situation. Despite opening the door for rival clubs during this free agency period, the 26-year-old South Australian is reportedly ready to commit long-term to the Bombers amid significant interest from the Adelaide Crows. Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph provided "fantastic news" for Essendon admirers during Fox Footy’s broadcast of the Geelong-Essendon Community Series match, confirming Draper's intent to stay. "I can tell you tonight, fantastic news, he will sign at the Essendon Football Club," he announced.
Ralph added insight on Draper's decision to delay signing, noting he wants to assess his performance alongside fellow ruckman Nick Bryan during the initial weeks of the season. He expressed confidence about Draper’s fitness following substantial pre-season efforts, asserting, "He’s really encouraged by a massive pre-season, he’s dropped weight, and so I think...reasonable money there." Reports suggest the potential length of his new deal could be around six years, with salary estimates reaching around $800,000 per season. This marked sum, as per Ralph, reflects Draper’s value when playing to his potential.
Former three-time Richmond premiership player Jack Riewoldt has also weighed in on Draper’s worth to the Essendon side, going as far as to label him their most pivotal player. "I actually think he’s probably their most important player," Riewoldt noted during the broadcast. His importance seems doubly backed by the central role he plays, particularly as coached by Brad Scott, especially with several younger midfielders poised to step up this season.
The situation for both players is emblematic of the broader challenges facing Essendon as they balance maintaining successful team dynamics with several uncertainties at the start of the season. With Cox's health still uncertain, the club remains hopeful for his recovery, and with Draper poised to secure his future at the Bombers, the upcoming matches will play a significant role in shaping both the team's lineup and morale as they strive for success.