Jake Stringer confident of trade to Geelong, relationship with Western Bulldogs irreparable

THERE is no chance of the Western Bulldogs patching up their relationship with Jake Stringer, who is confident of getting to Geelong in a trade.

Jake Stringer was shocked by Bulldogs’ decision to dump him. Picture: AAP

JAKE Stringer has ruled out making up with the Western Bulldogs and is confident he can get to Geelong despite its lack of early draft picks.

Stringer remains baffled by the Dogs’ decision to move him on and will eventually state a single club to which he wants to be traded.

Senior Bulldogs, including retiring captain Bob Murphy and Dale Morris, have this week stated they believe the relationship can be patched up.

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But Stringer has quickly moved on mentally and will under no circumstances attempt to make up with the club and return there next season.

It has been made clear there is no way back for either party, with Stringer quickly turning his focus to slotting into another club with premiership hopes.

Geelong’s first pick is No.20, significantly inferior to Essendon’s pick 11, which could make a trade harder to arrange should he choose the Cats.

Stringer has spoken to Essendon and will soon discuss his future with Geelong, which is at the front of the queue to acquire him.

But his management is confident Geelong would be able to secure a deal that will satisfy the Dogs despite their lesser starting point.

There is little chance of Jake Stringer and the Western Bulldogs making up. Picture: Michael Klein

It comes as Geelong veteran Harry Taylor threw his weight behind the club’s bid to restock with talented forwards.

Taylor says his message to the club’s powerbrokers has been they should do anything they can to keep Geelong in contention.

“Our recruiters have done a fantastic job up until now with our club. One thing we ask is they just give us the best chance to compete every single year,’’ he told the Herald Sun.

“It’s the only thing as a leader I ask of the club, just give us a chance to be successful.

“They have taken that on board and been fantastic in picking up players in the draft or trading player who have kept us relevant and kept us in the finals.

Asked if that included adding Ablett and Stringer, Taylor said he was on board.

“Whatever decision they decide to make, hopefully they do it with that in mind, that we stay relevant and stay competitive.

“We want to be a really successful team every year competing for the flag.

“I don’t want to change that now, I want that to be the case for as long as possible.”

Despite Gold Coast chairman Tony Cochrane’s hard line stance on Gary Ablett, the expectation is the Suns will eventually come to the party on a trade.

The Suns will likely trade Brandon Matera, Trent McKenzie, Matt Shaw and potentially Rory Thompson, so will need to find mature bodies.

Forcing Ablett to retire without a replacement given the likely exodus makes no sense from a list management perspective.

So while the Cats won’t trade Ablett for a late pick it is expected a compromise position will eventually be reached.

Originally published as Jake Stringer confident of trade to Geelong, relationship with Western Bulldogs irreparable