Essendon playing Jake Stringer as a midfielder is setting him up to fail, writes David King

DAVID King has a strong message for Essendon coach John Worsfold. Don’t play Jake Stringer as a midfielder or else the Bombers are setting their prized recruit up to fail.

MEMO John Worsfold: Don’t set up Jake Stringer to fail.

The Package isn’t a midfielder’s backside.

Jake has never been an uncontested ball accumulator, nor does he win clearances.

It’s rip, tear and bust through congestion or packs, which exhibits a threatening visual but Jake is a centre-bounce clearance option only and that’s as far as his midfield minutes should stretch.

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In Jake’s 89 games he has never amassed more than 21 disposals. He averages one clearance per week.

Cyril Rioli hasn’t had more than 21 disposals for four years but his defensive work is supreme; Jake’s is at the other end of the spectrum.

I remain a believer that Jake can regain his star status but only as a deep forward.

Jake’s freakish skills and considerable physical attributes are difficult for most defenders to stifle. Remember, Stringer kicked 56 goals in his All-Australian 2015 season, at just 21.

He kicked four goals or more eight times but has managed that feat just twice in his past 25 games.

Jake Stringer has been running through the midfield for the Bombers. Picture: AAP Images

Only 20 AFL players have kicked 50 goals or more in a season over the past four years.

High volume goalkickers are hard to find and clearly Jake isn’t without flaws as a player, but the on-field assessment of Stringer has become unfair and unbalanced.

The “set-up to fail syndrome” speaks of the blame apportioned to the employee (Stringer) rather than those managing (Worsfold) the tasks or roles he performs.

If Jake Stringer plays 25 per cent of his game time as a midfielder, as part of his rotation, don’t be shocked by little returns — but don’t blame Jake.

If Essendon only learnt one thing from last season’s Richmond premiership, then it must be to maximise your assets.

Low possession forwards like Stringer are the harshest judged commodities in our game, especially those that have shown a disliking to engage when their team doesn’t have possession.

Jake’s challenge is to chase, harass and tackle more to warrant his teammates’ respect.

The Tigers have also shown just how futile and ultimately pointless it is to attempt to change a player like Jack Riewoldt from a deep forward to a roaming type.

That didn’t work for Jack nor Damien Hardwick and don’t expect it to work for Jake Stringer or John Worsfold.

Stringer’s journey has reached soap opera type levels because of the off-field rumours and innuendo. There’s enough evidence to suggest the penny has dropped for Jake but only a fool would think it’s not a work in progress.

Jake has become extremely popular with his new teammates, comfortable and content living with his parents who’ve sacrificed Bendigo for the Docklands and happily settled in a fresh relationship. It appears that Jake is in a great space to once again thrive.

The wise move to cut short an overseas holiday in the off-season drew immediate praise as a strong and arduous pre-season was required.

Stringer hasn’t missed a session and surely that’ll pay dividends.

One facet that didn’t always come to the fore at the Western Bulldogs has been Jake’s honesty about his world in totality, but the Bombers hierarchy are impressed with his evolving maturity.

Not sugar-coating or glossing over the underlying reasons as to why Jake finds himself at Essendon, but embracing change.

Worsfold is the perfect person to steer and mould the off-field revival of Stringer, having encountered all in his lifetime in the AFL environment, but the on-field needs to match. Worsfold must maximise all the Bombers’ assets but particularly those with genuine star quality.

There’s no doubt Essendon’s defensive integrity is on watch as the free-flowing Adelaide look to cash in on anything short of AFL standard.

Do the Bombers defend effectively enough via system or will they need to revisit the defensive personnel, particularly in the injury absence of the understated Martin Gleeson.

Gleeson is an elite interceptor and rarely beaten one-on-one last season and this may force the hand of Worsfold to utilise another known product as an intercept commodity — Cale Hooker. Hooker is a goal-scoring threat, the only question is what is valued higher? The interceptor or a 40-goal season from Cale, the 2014 All-Australian backman.

Jake Stringer with the 2016 premiership cup. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Essendon is my selection for premiers in another very open year and like all other contenders they have strengths and weaknesses but one thing’s for sure, if the Bombers don’t absolutely maximise their stars, others will and 2018 will come and go.

Sometimes it’s difficult to see the forest for the trees, but Jake Stringer isn’t a midfielder.

He’s a deep forward, low-possession, maximum impact player ... maybe just leave him there.