Western Bulldogs working on possible trade but say Jake Stringer could stay at the club in 2018
WILL he stay or will he leave? The Western Bulldogs say Jake Stringer could remain at Whitten Oval next year. But Essendon and the Bulldogs remain a long way apart on any deal.
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THE Western Bulldogs remain adamant Jake Stringer could stay at the club next year despite the Dogs trying to work a deal behind the scenes.
Bulldogs director of football Chris Grant on Saturday followed coach Luke Beveridge and list manager Jason McCartney in saying Stringer will stay put unless an attractive deal emerges.
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“In regards to Jake and how the next week might play out, our position hasn’t really changed,” Grant told the club website.
“We met with Jake’s management a couple of weeks ago and mutually agreed to explore options of where Jake may play in 2018.
“Looking forward, we’ll continue to have discussions with the relevant parties, but as it stands Jake’s a Bulldogs player and there’s every chance he’ll be a Bulldogs player in 2018.”
Yet the Dogs want to severe ties with Stringer, while the player has his heart set on a move to Essendon.
Stringer has told friends he would rather sit out a year of football than return to the kennel, but history says that is an empty threat. He left for a US holiday over the weekend.
The Herald Sun revealed on Friday that the Bulldogs had approached Fremantle to find a suitable arrangement, while Essendon had done the same with Richmond.
The Stringer camp was left shell-shocked by Essendon’s decision on Thursday morning to trade pick 11 — which the Bulldogs had demanded for Stringer — to secure Devon Smith from Greater Western Sydney.
The Bombers have been given Stringer’s word that he will improve his fitness and training standards over summer so he can spend more time in the midfield.
But Essendon and the Bulldogs remain a long way apart as the clock ticks down to Thursday’s 2pm trade deadline.
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