Mathew Stokes on Essendon Bombers star Sam Draper and comments on Western Bulldogs; Melbourne Demons; Geelong Cats [Video]

Seeing Sam Draper’s reaction to the crucial decision late in the Bombers’ last-minute win against Adelaide was revealing and hilarious – unless you barracked for the Crows.

We saw the personalities of the players and what made them tick. It was entertaining and informative, and free of the constraints that stop so many players from feeling that it’s OK to reveal themselves to the public.

And creating an environment that allows that to happen is more important than many think because robotic personalities off the field often translate to robotic actions on the field.

With player pathways and school scholarships set up to teach people how they should live every aspect of their lives when they become professional footballers, the system works to dim the personalities made available to the …