Jake Stringer ‘done’ at Essendon as Bombers drama erupts

Bombers star Jake Stringer’s time at Essendon appears to already be over after an ugly contract standoff took a huge twist.

Jake Stringer may have played his 122nd and last match for Essendon. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Essendon star Jake Stringer is reportedly telling those close to him that he’s played his last game for the club as the ugly contract standoff appears to be heading for a messy end.

During the season, the 30-year-old Bombers star triggered a clause for a $400,000 deal for 2025 but Essendon have been reluctant to extend Stringer beyond that or upgrade his deal.

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The star forward played every game for Essendon this season, kicking 42 goals to finish equal 12th on the Coleman Medal leaderboard and one goal behind teammate Kyle Langford.

It was his best tally at the Bombers and equalled his 2016 tally when he was at the Western Bulldogs, the second best goalscoring season of his career, behind only his 56 goal tally in 2015.

But after seven seasons at the Bombers, Stringer appears destined for an ugly divorce from the club.

AFL.com.au’s Callum Twomey revealed that Stringer was testing the market to chase a more lucrative two year deal, with Collingwood reportedly in the box seat for his signature.

“He has hit a trigger for one more season at the Bombers. He has $400,000 on that deal for next year but he wants more money and a longer term of two years,” Twomey told the AFL.com.au’s Gettable podcast.

“Jake Stringer is telling people he’s played his last game for the Bombers and that he’s done there.

“Collingwood has interest in him. Craig McRae in my understanding has a keenness on him coming to the club because he kicks goals.

“We saw him do it on Anzac Day when he was really good against the Pies.

“There isn’t a rush of clubs chasing Stringer, I don’t have the Swans as a part of that or being interested but I do think there’ll be a home for him.”

Stringer had his best season in black and red. Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Stringer is reportedly circling the exit. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Stringer’s management had reportedly been in contact with Sydney and Geelong but negotiations had broken down.

The news comes after Essendon revealed it is “not budging” on its current offer to Stringer, according to a Herald Sun report last week.

It follows a report from The Age that Bombers skipper Zach Merrett met with coach Brad Scott to “express disappointment” that the club decided not to table extensions to Stringer and Jayden Laverde beyond 2025.

Speaking on Channel 9’s Footy Classified last week, journalist Damien Barrett revealed the Pies were the frontrunners, but Bombers great Matthew Lloyd questioned whether Stringer was consistent enough to play for a club like Collingwood.

“What’s funny is, the Bombers are desperate for a forward, but they obviously see enough where they go, ‘You know what, we’re probably best to move Jake Stringer on’,” he said.

“I think they get frustrated with his lack of consistency, from one week to the next, one game to the next.

“His best is great, but his bad is bad.”

A 211-game veteran, Stringer was a 2015 All-Australian and instrumental in the Bulldogs’ 2016 premiership charge.

But after seven seasons at Essendon and a year that started so well with the Bombers sitting second on the ladder after 11 rounds with an 8-2-1 record.

From there, the Bombers’ record was 3-9, including losing six of their last seven as they crashed out of finals contention to finished the season eleventh.

But Collingwood could also take all the help they can get.

The Pies goalkickers were well off the pace with Bobby Hill leading the way on 30 goals, followed by Lachlan Schultz on 24 and Jamie Elliott (21) as the Pies always seemed destined to miss the finals despite being the defending premiers.

Originally published as Jake Stringer ‘done’ at Essendon as Bombers drama erupts