AFL Integrity warns Essendon over Nick Hind and Jake Stringer’s associates

AFL Integrity has warned Essendon to be vigilant over who it allows into its change rooms after concerns were raised about players’ associates.

AFL Integrity has warned Essendon to be vigilant over who it allows into its change rooms after concerns were raised about players’ associates.

It’s believed the Bombers were warned to be aware of a group of associates of recently delisted Bomber Nick Hind, who is known to have a shared friendship group with teammate Jake Stringer.

It’s believed the associates regularly attend Essendon matches and were seen in the Bombers’ rooms more than once this season.

One of the associates was first spotted in a Roaming Brian segment post-match on Channel 7.

The AFL confirmed to the Herald Sun it had advised a club that friends of a player were not welcome in the club’s inner-sanctum, but would not confirm the club or the player.

The Bombers were warned about associates of Nick Hind and Jake Stringer. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The league did not disclose the reason the warning was issued.

The Bombers have been contacted for comment.

Stringer, 30, is reported to be in a stand-off with the Bombers and despite being contracted for another season, he is exploring a possible trade.

The Herald Sun understands that rival clubs are aware of the situation with Stringer, his friends and AFL Integrity.

After being linked to Collingwood in a possible trade, reports emerged that the Pies have cooled their interest in the dynamic forward.

Stringer’s future at Essendon is in doubt. Picture: Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Sydney is reported to the frontrunner if a Stringer trade plays out.

In an interview with the Herald Sun in May, Stringer said he began exploring Islam when he met a Muslim man at a sponsor’s barbecue in December last year.

The man invited Stringer to attend a mosque in Sunshine.

“I talk to him every day and see him most days since then,” Stringer said of the relationship.

“The guys there have been massive for me this year, just helping me to find a very good balance. Their brotherhood is amazing and it’s something I’ve loved from the moment I met them.’’

The AFL stepping in to ban an associate of a player is rare. In 2013, Richmond’s Jake King was advised to not bring bikie underworld figure Toby Mitchell into the rooms after Mitchell was seen in the inner sanctum after the club’s round 20 win against the Brisbane Lions.

It prompted the Tigers to tell King the association was unacceptable.

Then-AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said King’s decision to invite Mitchell into the club’s rooms was “pretty stupid” and, separately, raised concerns about undesirable people

potentially “infiltrating” the code.

King tested Richmond’s patience when he was seen twice in public with the former bikie enforcer in the ensuing months.

Outgoing Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale conceded the club could not specifically ban King from associating with Mitchell.

“We’ve brought it to Jake’s attention that he should think long and hard about those sorts of friendships and connections and associations,’’ Gale said.