Jake Stringer’s trade to Essendon still in limbo as Western Bulldogs, West Coast hit snag
ESSENDON’S trade period has been labelled a huge success regardless of whether the Bombers are able to secure exiled Western Bulldog Jake Stringer.
ESSENDON’S trade period has been labelled a huge success regardless of whether the Bombers are able to secure exiled Western Bulldog Jake Stringer.
Former Bombers’ chairman Paul Little said the addition of speedster Adam Saad and GWS goal kicker Devon Smith would help lift the club to the “next level” in 2018, only one year after Essendon finished last.
But the Stringer deal remained in limbo on Wednesday after talks between the Western Bulldogs and West Coast about a complicated pick swap hit an 11th-hour snag.
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Essendon has offered picks No.25 and No.30 to the Dogs for Stringer and has ruled its future first-round pick in next year’s draft off-limits.
The Dogs wanted to on-trade selections No.9, No.25 and No.30 in return for the Eagles’ pick No.13, and shuffle selections in next year’s draft.
The move would have helped the Dogs essentially secure pick No.13 in return for Stringer but the two clubs remained apart in their negotiations on Wednesday night.
Stringer, 23, does not want to return to the Kennel and could spend next season playing for Footscray’s VFL team, if at all, if he is kept to his Western Bulldogs’ contract.
The stand-off has set the scene for a final round of tense negotiations, although sources close to Stringer were optimistic a deal would still be done.
Essendon was unwilling to relent on its offer of two second-round selections for Stringer last night.
Little, who stepped down as chairman in late 2015 amid the most turbulent period in the club’s history, said the additions of Saad and Smith had already put the Bombers’ in a strong position to continue their climb up the ladder next season.
“We have now, I think, a record membership and what appears to be a real shift in these potentially really key players wanting to be a part of the Essendon story,” Little said.
“The three recruits, if Stringer comes across or not, are all of a similar age and levels of experience and really takes the club to another level again in terms of what it can achieve in the next two or three years.
“I think Essendon supporters and members are justified in feeling excited and are enjoying the euphoria of what has been a really good year on and off the field.”
The Bombers and Port Adelaide have been widely viewed as the two biggest winners of the AFL trade period.
Little said he phoned recruiting chief Dodoro on Tuesday to congratulate the talent boss for his role helping left the club from a dark period.
“It’s been hard for Adrian during that period when we were desperately trying to not only just add some top-up players, but also stop players from leaving the fold,” he said.
“Adrian had very much a thankless task for a couple of years there.
“But he has a lot of experience and I rang him to congratulate him on what has been a huge performance on his behalf.
“We certainly agonised through a really tough two to three year period and it is appropriate now that Adrian should be getting some credit for a job that has been exceptionally well done this year.”
Originally published as Jake Stringer’s trade to Essendon still in limbo as Western Bulldogs, West Coast hit snag