Essendon contract news: Jake Stringer activates secret clause as Dons make call on Jayden Laverde

Jake Stringer has activated a secret clause in his contract to extend his time at Essendon – unless the Dons decide to trade him, while they’ve also made a call on defender Jayden Laverde.

Essendon veteran forward Jake Stringer has already activated a little-known one-year contract extension after meeting a games trigger clause this season.

While it was widely reported Stringer was out of contract this year, he has played enough games to activate one more year on his deal at Tullamarine.

It means Stringer, 30, can stay at the club for next year unless the Bombers make the call to shake-up the list and trade Stringer for what would be expected to be a late pick.

Stringer had only five touches and played 65 per cent game time in the loss to Brisbane Lions on Saturday night, the third-least amount of game-time at Essendon.

But his match winning abilities forward could yet appeal to a premiership contender with the premiership forward booting 42 goals across 23 games in 2024, only one less than Bulldogs’ superstar Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

Jake Stringer has activated a clause in his contract to extend for another season. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

A club with a strong and experienced culture would be best-placed to make a play for Stringer who won a premiership at Western Bulldogs in 2016 before the bombshell move to Essendon in late 2017.

But Stringer would only consider moving on to a third club for a multi-year deal, with sources claiming Stringer was worth up to $650,00- $700,000 a season including incentives at his best.

The conundrum comes as mobile key defender Jayden Laverde has also attracted some rival interest from multiple Victorian clubs about a potential move.

Laverde remains contracted at Essendon for next season but could consider his options if he feels his spot in the senior side will be taken by injury-prone youngster Zach Reid alongside Ben McKay and Jordan Ridley for next season.

Jordan Ridley of the Bombers was injured for much of the season. Picture: Michael Klein

Essendon still hopes Zach Reid will be a centrepiece of its back line for a decade. Picture: Michael Klein

Laverde, 28, is a required player at the Bombers after managing 21 matches this season, following Brendon Zerk-Thatcher’s move to Port Adelaide last year.

Collingwood is also eyeing fringe midfielder Ben Hobbs who has struggled to cement a position in the team amid the midfield logjam at Tullamarine.

The Magpies could use pick 20 which it wants from Gold Coast for John Noble to help pull off deals for Adelaide backman Mark Keane and Hobbs, who was originally taken pick 13 by Essendon.

Hobbs has been likened to former Collingwood hard nut Taylor Adams, who was traded to Sydney Swans late last year.

Essendon coach Brad Scott has been strong that the club needs to improve its list for next season in a bid to move closer to a sustained crack at some premiership success after 20 years without a finals win.

But the club will continue talks about the best approach in coming weeks as rivals finish their seasons and ramp up trade discussions with other list managers.

Jayden Laverde is a required player at the Bombers. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

The Stringer decision is a significant one as the Bombers are keen to produce more consistently in 2025 after losing nine of their last 12 games this season to miss a spot in the eight.

At the start of the 2023 season, Scott said the Bombers relied too heavily on Stringer previously.

“We have got a million miles away from relying on Jake to play really well to win and if he doesn’t we lose,” Scott said.

But the club is not flushed with key forward options in attack with the club led by Kyle Langford and Nate Caddy late in the season after Peter Wright was dropped to the VFL for poor form.

Stringer, along with delisted speedster Nick Hind and Laverde, is one of captain Zach Merrett’s best mates at the club.

Merrett would likely be consulted on any decision on Stringer.

Essendon has pick eight in this year’s draft and could select another midfielder from a deep and talented pool alongside academy prospect Isaac Kako.

Kako is widely considered the best small forward prospect in this year’s draft after an outstanding national championships.