AFL trade period: Sydney rules out move for Essendon forward Jake Stringer

Jake Stringer is running out of options if he wants to leave Essendon, with one of the star forward’s key trade suitors ruling themselves out of a move.

Jake Stringer’s trade options have narrowed again after Sydney ruled itself out of a play for the enigmatic Essendon forward.

The 30-year-old, who kicked 42 goals in 2024, has been assessing the market after only being offered a one-year extension by the Bombers.

The Swans had been touted as one of the leading suitors for Stringer despite reports he wanted to stay in Victoria.

But Sydney chief executive Tom Harley said on Thursday the club would not be pursuing Essendon’s three-time leading goalkicker to bolster its attack.

“No, it won’t be Jake Stringer,” Harley said on SEN.

“Our focus has clearly been on retention of the players that we’ve had out of contract going into the start of the year and I think we have done an extraordinary job to secure that.

“We will look at ways to get better, clearly, through the trade and free agency period, but I wouldn’t have thought that would be one of them.”

Stringer was this week linked with cross-town rival GWS Giants.

Sydney has ruled out a trade move for Jake Stringer. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Harley defended the Swans’ tall trio — Joel Amartey, Hayden McLean and Logan McDonald — after they were held goalless during the club’s Grand Final loss to Brisbane.

“Going into the Grand Final we were the No. 1 scoring team in the competition,” Harley said.

“That’s not just down to the six forwards or the three (tall) forwards — we clearly have a powerful midfield that can hit the scoreboard.”

Jake Stringer. Goodness.#AFLDonsCrowspic.twitter.com/Mjyxf2xQHO

— 7AFL (@7AFL) July 9, 2023

Harley said Sydney understood why Luke Parker had asked for a trade to North Melbourne after being offered a three-year deal.

“Luke is a champion of our footy club and I can’t understate that. His relationship with John (Longmire) is extraordinary,” he said.

“But this can happen. We saw it with Luke Hodge at Hawthorn. We saw it with Jordan Lewis at Hawthorn (when he went) to Melbourne.

“Hodge to Brisbane, Mitchell to West Coast. As Luke even said to me, ‘these things will probably happen more and more’.

“We need to make it work for us, but we’re certainly understanding of Luke’s position.”

He said discussions with superstar midfielder Chad Warner about a deal beyond 2025 had taken place and the West Australian product was “absolutely invested in our footy club”.

Originally published as AFL trade period: Sydney rules out move for Essendon forward Jake Stringer