Jake Stringer’s future under question as key list decisions loom at Bombers

Brad Scott said the Dons needed to improve its list across the board after another disappointing season, and all eyes will be on one of their marquee stars after he was lashed by an AFL great.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 23: Jake Stringer of the Bombers celebrates a goal during the 2024 AFL Round 15 match between the Essendon Bombers and the West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium on June 23, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

AFL great Dermott Brereton has lashed Jake Stringer’s failure to keep his body in elite shape as Essendon ponders whether he is worth more than a one-year contract extension.

Essendon faces a series of key decisions over the off-season after retiring former captain Dyson Heppell’s final game in a loss to Brisbane.

Coach Brad Scott said the club needed to improve its list across the board as the Dons assess yet another second-half fade-out for a club which was second on the ladder in round 11 and fourth in round 18 yet somehow missed finals.

Stringer is up for a new deal, but what will he get? (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

ESSENDON’S KEY LIST MANAGEMENT CALLS INCLUDE:

• How best to use its top 10 draft pick, with the Dons adamant they will again go back to the draft after securing Nate Caddy last year but open to what kind of player they take.

• The future of Dylan Shiel, who has drawn some interest from St Kilda as Ross Lyon’s team also chases other inside mids, with the contracted mid more than serviceable in the final eight games of the year and contracted to 2025.

• Maximising the talent of No. 5 draft pick Elijah Tsatas, with Essendon adamant he has a bright future after putting in a power of work on improving his kicking while playing VFL. They will not consider any trade scenarios for the livewire mid.

• Locking away uncontracted players, with Matt Guelfi and Will Setterfield likely to get new deals but a decision is to be made on Sam Weideman. Nick Hind, Tex Wanganeen and Kaine Baldwin were delisted on Monday.

• Whether to trade or play inside mid Ben Hobbs, who was the starting sub against Brisbane after being pushed aside with Sam Durham and Jy Caldwell now starting inside mids.

• How to revitalise Peter Wright, a best-and-fairest winner who kicked only 19 goals in 14 games this year amid time in the VFL after being pushed aside for Nate Caddy.

Stringer kicked two goals from five possessions against Brisbane to finish the season with 42 goals but only 11 goals in his final eight games.

Brereton told Fox Footy he would be reluctant to give Stringer the two-year deal he wants because he cannot retain his fitness or body shape through the rigours of an AFL season.

The Bombers have missed the finals in both of Brad Scott’s two seasons in charge. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

“You’ve got a bloke who has prepared himself beautifully in Round 1 and his body looks like it’s carrying pounds by the end of the year,” Brereton said.

“He might have injuries, but why can’t he look after himself during the year? That’s not professional. If you are a professional why do you let your body go like that during the season?

“I’m trying to ascertain why you reward somebody with a longer contract who year in, year out lets his physical prowess fade away in season.

“This era is littered with players who say they are playing in the professional era. Then we hear stories thereafter that they couldn’t train but banged in four burgers during the week outside of meal time. That’s not professional, I don’t know why we tolerate it. It’s not professional to let your body deteriorate during the season. Even if you’re injured, you modify what you put in it in terms of food, you modify the way you train and keep your body fat at the right level. We were doing that in the 80s. And people say this is the professional era? Give me a spell.”

Brad Scott, who has two more years remaining on a four-season deal, said the improvement in Caldwell and Durham as well as debut seasons from Archie Roberts and Caddy were clear positives.

But he said the Dons had plenty of work to do on their list.

“We’re looking to improve all areas of the game. We’ve got some areas we’d like to improve forward, back and midfield. It’s not one specific area. It’s a build for us.”