Josh Draper

Draper was signed as a Category B Rookie from {{AFL Fre}}'s Next Generation Academy in the 2022 AFL draft. He qualified due to Ethiopian heritage on his mother's side.{{Cite web |last=WAFC |title=AFL DRAFT GURU RATES LEADING WA CONTENDERS - TALL DEFENDERS |url=https://www.wafootball.com.au/news/23023/afl-draft-guru-rates-leading-wa-contenders-tall-defenders |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=West Australian Football League}}

He played for the reserve side, Peel Thunder in the WAFL for his first season at the club.{{Cite web |url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl-draft/afl-draft-2022-josh-draper-profile-video-highlights-stats-position-comparison-and-more-c-8703707 |title=Joshua Draper profile, video of WAFL match |date=4 November 2022 |website=thewest.com.au}} In Round 1 of the 2024 AFL season {{AFL Fre}} conceded two injuries to key defenders Brennan Cox and Oscar McDonald.{{Cite web |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1090227/fremantle-dockers-defender-brennan-cox-set-for-hammy-surgery-facing-three-month-sideline-stint |title=Freo defender set for hammy surgery, facing three month sideline stint |date=18 March 2024 |website=afl.com.au}} This provided Draper with his opportunity to debut for the senior team in round 2 of the 2024 AFL season in a game against {{AFL NM}} at Marvel Stadium.{{Cite web |url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/1511125/i-want-to-make-the-freo-family-proud-draper |title=Josh Draper to debut! |date=21 March 2024 |website=fremantlefc.com.au}} On debut, Draper collected 7 disposals in a 26 point win away from home.{{Cite web |url=https://www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/5910 |title=AFL Live Scores, Fixtures, Results, News |date=23 March 2024 |website=afl.com.au |language=en}} Due to this solid performance on debut, Draper kept his spot in the team for {{AFL Fre}}'s round 3 clash with {{AFL Ade}} in the west. Draper played even better in this match collecting 14 disposals and 4 marks. Josh made the journey east for Fremantle's two week stint in Adelaide, first facing Carlton in the Gather Round, and {{AFL PA}} the following week. Perhaps his best game came in round sixteen against {{AFL Syd}} at the Sydney Cricket Ground. With Fremantle captain Alex Pearce missing the game due to injury, Draper was tasked with playing on some of the Swans most dangerous forwards and was instrumental in the one point win. He finished with 14 disposals and a career-high 11 spoils.{{cite news|title=Fremantle Dockers defender Josh Draper’s heroics against Sydney Swans likely to earn Rising Star nomination|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/fremantle-dockers/fremantle-dockers-defender-josh-drapers-heroics-against-sydney-swans-likely-to-earn-rising-star-nomination-c-15193918|work=The West Australian|date=30 June 2024|first=Jackson|last=Barrett}} He received a 2024 AFL Rising Star nomination for his career-high 18 disposal game at 94 per cent efficiency during Western Derby 59.{{cite news|title=Draper a Rising Star!|url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/1614189/draper-a-rising-star|work=fremantlefc|date= |first=|last=}} He signed a two-year contract extension on August 12th to remain at Fremantle until at least the end of 2027.{{cite news|title=Fremantle Dockers elevate rookie defender Josh Draper with two-year deal|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/fremantle-dockers/fremantle-dockers-elevate-rookie-defender-josh-draper-with-two-year-deal-c-15675151|work=The West Australian|date= 12 August 2024|first=Aaron|last=Kirby}}

Updated to the end of the 2024 season{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/J/Josh_Draper.html|title=Josh Draper|publisher=AFL Tables}}

{{AFL player statistics legend}}

{{AFL player statistics start}}

|-

| 2023 || {{AFL Fre}} || 37

| 0 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –

|-

| 2024 || {{AFL Fre}} || 37

| 20 || 0 || 0 || 104 || 95 || 199 || 80 || 17 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 5.2 || 4.8 || 10.0 || 4.0 || 0.9

|- class=sortbottom

! colspan=3 | Career

! 20 !! 0 !! 0 !! 104 !! 95 !! 199 !! 80 !! 17 !! 0.0 !! 0.0 !! 5.2 !! 4.8 !! 10.0 !! 4.0 !! 0.9

|}

Updated to the end of round 7, 2024{{Cite web|url=https://wafl.com.au/player/joshua-draper|title=Joshua Draper|publisher=West Australian Football League|access-date=21 March 2024}}

{{AFL player statistics legend}}

{{AFL player statistics start}}

|-

| 2023 || Peel Thunder || 61

| 11 || 0 || 0 || 55 || 44 || 99 || 36 || 15 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 5.0 || 4.0 || 9.0 || 3.3 || 1.4

|- class=sortbottom

! colspan=3 | Career

! 11 !! 0 !! 0 !! 55 !! 44 !! 99 !! 36 !! 15 !! 0.0 !! 0.0 !! 5.0 !! 4.0 !! 9.0 !! 3.3 !! 1.4

|}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons cat}}

• {{Fremplayer}}
• {{AFL Tables}}
• {{AustralianFootball}}
• {{WAFL FootyFacts}}

{{Fremantle player squad}}

{{2024 AFL Rising Star nominees}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Draper, Josh}}

Category:2004 births

Category:Living people

Category:Fremantle Football Club players

Category:Peel Thunder Football Club players

Category:Australian rules footballers from Western Australia

Category:Australian people of Ethiopian descent

Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen