Jake Stringer Q&A: GWS recruit on AFL trade drama, leaving Essendon and becoming a Giant

Jake Stringer is loving life as a Giant. But, as the trade deadline neared, it seemed certain his trade would fall through. He tells LACHLAN MCKIRDY about that drama and moving on from Essendon.

Jake Stringer says he has been warmly welcomed by the Giants. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

The Giants’ pursuit of Jake Stringer was one of the most interesting trades this AFL off-season.

Adam Kingsley’s side lost several key players at the end of the season, with Harry Perryman, Isaac Cumming, Nick Haynes, and James Peatling all ending up at other clubs.

Yet, despite none of the quartet playing predominantly in the forward line, Greater Western Sydney targeted Stringer as its key trade acquisition.

After failing to hang on to leads in their two finals matches and falling short in consecutive campaigns, adding more experience to a forward line that includes reigning Coleman Medallist Jesse Hogan and captain Toby Greene was appealing.

Conversely, Stringer was coming off a strong season for the Bombers with 42 goals to his name.

He reached a trigger in his contract to extend his stay at Essendon until the end of 2025, but the 30-year-old was eager to explore his options in search of a longer deal.

Stringer is coming off one of the best seasons of his career for Essendon. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

An often maligned figure in the AFL, Stringer’s career hasn’t always been defined by consistency. However, 2024 was arguably the best year he has produced, playing an equal career-high 23 matches.

It went down to the wire on the final day of the trade period, but the Giants eventually got their man as they sent pick 53 back to the Bombers in return. It’s a fairly low-risk investment for a premiership winner and proven goalscorer, but the plan for how they use him remains to be seen.

In his first interview as a Giant, Jake Stringer sits down with Lachlan McKirdy to explain why he wanted a change after seven years at Essendon, why playing under Kingsley was an intriguing prospect and how he thinks he can contribute to the club’s quest for an elusive premiership.

The 30-year-old is set to link up with one of the most potent forward lines in the competition, which includes Coleman Medallist Jesse Hogan. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Lachlan McKirdy: Welcome to the Giants, Jake. How has your first week been in Sydney?

Jake Stringer: It’s been good. A bit of a climate change, which has been nice. But the club and all the players and staff have been really welcoming and made this week a lot easier.

LM: How have you adjusted to the hot Sydney weather in comparison to training in Victoria?

JS: Yeah, just walking around it’s always hot, but such a beautiful place, Sydney. I never really spent much time here other than playing. To be able to venture around and see all the beautiful spots, I’m looking forward to spending the next couple of years at least up here.

Your new number 20, Jake Stringer. pic.twitter.com/NNFgy12Wde

— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) November 29, 2024

LM: It’s been a big few months organising the move. Can you talk through the reasons why you felt it was the best thing for your career?

JS: It was pretty much just a conversation with (Essendon) and where they were at and then obviously the Giants came to me and the decision was pretty easy in the end for me, and it was one that was made pretty quickly.

LM: The deal looked off during the final day of the trade period. Were you confident it was always going to get done?

JS: I was away, I was in Thailand at the time with a few mates, I was with (Essendon teammates) Nick Hind and Jayden Laverde and they were stressing more than I was because apparently the deal was off halfway through the day and then it was back on with an hour to go. I was sitting by the pool, enjoying my break and whatever was going to be, was going to be. I’m just thankful that they worked it out and I’m lucky enough to be able to start up here.

Stringer was always confident the move to the Giants would eventually come off. Picture: Phil Hillyard

LM: Would you have been happy to stay at Essendon if the deal had fallen through?

JS: Yeah. My ideal (scenario) was to come up here but I was still contracted so if I had to have gone back I would have, and there wouldn’t have been any malice between anyone. I didn’t leave on bad terms, it was just the way the wind blew and I was fortunate and grateful to be able to come up here and have a lifestyle change and live near the beach and get some warm weather in winter.

LM: What was your initial conversation like with Adam Kingsley and the Giants?

JS: I think you can see from Kingers his pretty straightforward approach in press conferences and I was probably pretty lucky that I’d had a previous relationship with (Giants footy boss) Jason McCartney through the Bulldogs. He was a big advocate for me. It doesn’t go unnoticed that the club’s so-called taken a punt on me so I’m looking forward to being able to repay the faith.

LM: Were there other clubs on your radar?

JS: There were bits and pieces through different times. But pretty much I wasn’t really interested in too much else other than the Giants or going back to Essendon.

After seven years at the Bombers, Stringer would have been happy to stay. However, his preference was a move to GWS. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

LM: Is the Giants’ on-field success and finals appearances one of the biggest drawcards of the move?

JS: Definitely. I mean that was probably the most exciting part when they said that they wanted me to join. They were right in two big finals games and see me being able to help them going forward. I was rapt at the opportunity to take that up and put my best foot forward through the pre-season – head down, bum up and work hard and see where it lands me.

LM: You would have watched a lot of the Giants play and their attacking style. How do you think you will fit in with the “Orange Tsunami”?

JS: They play a fast-attacking game of footy and, if you’re a forward, who wouldn’t love that? They work hard and I’ve got my work cut out for me but I’m looking forward to the challenge. There’s no ceiling on what the group can do and hopefully, I can be a small part in that.

Essendon list boss Matt Rosa joins @RileyBev to discuss the Jake Stringer deal. pic.twitter.com/NYatcXADfa

— AFL (@AFL) October 16, 2024

LM: You’re joining a forward line that includes Coleman Medallist Jesse Hogan and 2023 All-Australian captain Toby Greene. How do you think you will fit in?

JS: That’s probably the most pleasing thing for me is how welcoming they’ve all been. I’m going to live with Toby for the next couple of weeks, so for him to put his stay up for me and welcome me into his family, I’m very fortunate and lucky that the captain of the footy club’s happy to do that. I’ve known Jesse through the system for a long time, same with Toby, we’ve had some battles over the years.

Stringer is ready to repay the faith for the “punt” the Giants have taken on him. Picture: Phil Hillyard

LM: You’ve got a multi-year deal at the Giants, what goals do you have of what you want to achieve while you’re here?

JS: Every day I’m coming in here just trying to be the best version of myself and trying to help the young group out there. They’re a really young group, really driven as I’ve seen over the last week. So just trying to find my feet here and working hard.

LM: You had one of the best seasons of your career in 2024. How will being in a new environment help you build on that?

JS: Well, to do a pre-season this year I’m absolutely rapt. I haven’t been able to do one for a while, so to have no injuries or interruptions or anything like that has just been amazing and it goes a long way through the season when you get a really good run at it. It’s just an exciting place here, they’re a very close group and I think I’ll add great value to the group.

It remains to be seen exactly how the Giants will utilise Stringers’ talents. Picture: Phil Hillyard

LM: Interstate players often talk about getting out of the footy bubble at GWS. Is that something you’re looking forward to?

JS: Absolutely, I’ve been trying to live out of the bubble for the past eight years but it doesn’t work too well for me. That was one of the appealing things about coming here, it’s such a big rugby league state and I love my NRL, so I’ll be going to watch a few games and get in amongst it and all the little local grounds around here. I’m excited for that. But to be able to just cruise down the beach and not have to worry about anything, I can’t wait for it.

LM: Have you already got an NRL team?

JS: I went for the Storm but I’m up here now. I don’t know. If the Storm look after me with tickets I might stay with them otherwise if any of the NRL teams want to look after me I’m more than happy to join.

Originally published as Jake Stringer Q&A: GWS recruit on AFL trade drama, leaving Essendon and becoming a Giant