AFL trade news: Jake Stringer stuck in trade limbo with interest in forward ‘modest at best’
He’s the biggest rollercoaster in footy, and Essendon is looking to ditch the ups and downs of the last two decades. JAY CLARK has the latest on if Jake Stringer and the Bombers part ways.
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Brad Scott put it on the agenda in March.
The senior coach in his pre-season sit-down said quite plainly he wanted Essendon to “ditch the rollercoaster ride of the past two decades”.
And when it comes to Jake Stringer, 30, there is arguably no bigger rollercoaster in footy.
It might sound unfair on the man himself who must feel like he takes the blame for his footy side’s problems for as long as he has kicked a Sherrin.
Essendon’s two decades of doom certainly aren’t Stringer’s fault.
But the reality is the man who can win games almost as regularly as he can go completely missing is searching for his third home.
The interest at this stage from rivals is modest at best, and Stringer still remains much more likely to stay at Essendon in 2025 than leave the club, as things stand.
While former Magpies’ president Eddie McGuire linked Stringer to Collingwood, and it is hard not to think ahead to the possible Anzac Day storyline, the Magpies are a bit surprised by the reports.
They had a cold bucket of water ready to pour on the whole Stringer proposition.
And no other clubs have come forward for him, yet.
The former Bulldog has one more year left on his deal at Tullamarine, but is currently exploring his options for a third home in the hope of a multi-year deal on upwards of $500,000 a season.
In this year’s trade period, he is the electric fence. The wet paint. List managers are looking at it, knowing the warnings, but still, it won’t hurt, will it?
Stringer booted 42 goals, one less than Jamarra Ugle-Hagan this year. Imagine him in a good side, playing closer goal, his friends are saying.
Could he win a Coleman? There’s the significant upside in a man once likened to Gary Ablett Sr. If fit, he can be a nightmare to stop.
The bumps, the blinding snaps, the strong grabs. He can do it all.
But what about when the other team has the ball? That is when the intensity drops off.
In finals, these pressure forwards and speedy goal kickers are rising above, and Essendon ranked 17th for ground balls inside forward 50m this year, according to Champion Data.
The way the game is played these days – that is a doozy of an alarm bell.
It is why coach Brad Scott is maintaining the hard line. Jake Stringer, Jayden Laverde and Dylan Shiel can all stay in red and black, on the one-year deals currently outlined in their contracts.
Then a one-year deal after that and a one-year after that. Stringer’s body is a risk, and the club know it.
So that is Essendon’s position and it is not budging, and this is a club with a decent amount of salary cap space after front-ending a spate of recent contracts.
The Bombers hit-up four experienced players in last year’s trade period, but are taking a different approach this year as they hit the draft.
Caddy looks set to be given the keys to the forward 50m next year, alongside Kyle Langford, and if he can rediscover some form, spearhead Peter Wright.
It’s a big ‘if’ for ‘Two-Metre Peter’ who had a shocking year after the big bump against Sydney rattled him.
The Bombers also want Archie Perkins in the team, and they’ll get the best small forward in the crop this year, Isaac Kako, as part of the academy program.
He will be ready sooner rather than later.
The Bombers weren’t a young team this year, playing on average seventh oldest and sixth most experienced side based on their 23 picked every week.
They would get younger if Zach Reid, Nick Bryan, Elijah Tsatas, Ben Hobbs and Kako (plus they have pick eight in this year‘s draft) get some more regular game time.
But to find their way in, others have to drop out.
Stringer won’t be booted out of the Bombers, but the ‘for sale’ sign is definitely up.
The question is whether there are any takers, and the answer midway through September is ‘not yet’.
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Originally published as AFL trade news: Jake Stringer stuck in trade limbo with interest in forward ‘modest at best’
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