Essendon conducted up to 12 interviews with those close to Jake Stringer before trading for former Bulldog

ESSENDON Chief executive Xavier Campbell reveals how much work went into the Jake Stringer deal as the Bombers make a call on three fringe players.

Jake Stringer with new coach John Worsfold. Picture: essendonfc.com.au

ESSENDON chief executive Xavier Campbell has revealed Bombers officials met with 10-12 people close to Jake Stringer before trading for the wantaway Western Bulldogs premiership star.

Campbell met with Stringer’s parents during the whirlwind trade and twice one-on-one with the explosive goalkicker, who has battled injury, form and off-field issues the past 18 months.

“I just wanted to know him more as a person,” Campbell told SEN Breakfast.

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“Know what his motivations were, know how he viewed the last few years and where he thought things hadn’t been quite the level that he wanted to be.

“Jake was dealing with a lot of complex issues ... it (meeting parents) was sort of understanding a bit more from their perspective.

Jake Stringer with new coach John Worsfold. Picture: essendonfc.com.au

“I reckon we spoke to 10 or 12 people in relation to understanding more about Jake’s situation.

“You want to be comfortable he was what he was saying he wanted to be.”

Campbell said Stringer, who cut an overseas holiday short by four weeks to begin preseason training late last week, posed no more risk than any other recruit.

“I think anyone (that) comes in brings some sort of element of risk when they come to your organisation,” he said.

“I guess having met with him that many times and spoken to so many people around him we wanted to reduce that risk and I think we got to a point where we did that.”

Jake Stringer has returned to training early. Picture: Essendon FC

The Bombers secured the 23-year-old with two second-round picks — 25 and 30 — before the Bulldogs on-traded No. 30 to Carlton along with its own second-round selection (No.28) for pick No.16.

Stringer was one of three high-profile recruits for Essendon during the trade period alongside Devon Smith and Adam Saad.

ESSENDON announced on Wednesday it had re-signed Jackson Merrett, Jake Long and Shaun McKernan to one-year deals.

Merrett remains on the senior list, Long has been promoted to the senior list and McKernan remains on the rookie list.