Wreck It Ralph: Dons playing high-stakes game with Stringer and the bargain bin forwards up for grabs

Jake Stringer is desperate to stay at Essendon, but how much are the Bombers willing to test the loyalty of a rare forward actually delivering for them? JON RALPH writes, it’s a dangerous game.

Essendon fans already shattered about their late-season fall from grace had to endure more cruel punishment as the All-Australian debate raged.

Massimo D’Ambrosio, the man who had fled for Hawthorn after being offered only a one-year Essendon deal, was now considered a worthy All-Australian wingman.

He would eventually miss out to midfielder Nick Daicos but it rubbed salt into the wound given his polished ball use and run was exactly what the Dons lacked as they crashed from contention.

As D’Ambrosio said after being offered a single season at Essendon and leaving for a longer deal: “At this time in my career I just needed a bit more security”.

It is an episode worth noting as the Dons try to play hard ball on Jake Stringer.

There are many things Stringer isn’t.

He isn’t very consistent, he isn’t always there in a crisis, he isn’t a ball of muscle like Scott Pendlebury or Josh Weddle or Isaac Heeney.

Stringer had a great year for the Bombers. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

But he is especially loyal, he is desperate to stay at Essendon.

And this year like very few other players he kicked goals when they were needed.

Playing in an Essendon forward line fully of highly paid stars who singularly failed to do that when counted upon this year.

As the Herald Sun reported this week, he has ticked off a contract clause that means he’s got the option to play at the Dons in 2025.

He can accept a deal of about $400,000, renegotiate, or go and request a trade.

Essendon should be careful what they wish for as they try to strike a balance between incentivising Stringer’s future performance and limiting their exposure if he signs a two-year deal then fails to deliver.

Let’s be as blunt as we can be about this.

Stringer delivered exceptional value for Essendon this year given his goal output and salary of much less than $800,000 a season.

His tally of 42.25 was the 13th best haul in the comp.

It was the same as Tyson Stengle, who many Cats fans screamed should be in the All-Australian team.

It was one more than Toby Greene, paid over a million bucks a year and former All-Australian captain.

It was six more than Will Hayward, who rivals were prepared to offer six years at $800,000 before he eventually signed a five-year deal.

It was double the output of the disappointing Jade Gresham (22 games, 19 goals), who signed a three-year deal worth $700,000 a season.

The Don kicked the 13th most goals in the league this season. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

It was triple the tally of Gryan Myers and Ben Ainsworth, two half forwards of some renown.

And it was double the tally of Todd Marshall and Luke Jackson, two young stars who are also on exorbitant contracts.

In short, for all of his advertised flaws it was enough to get him a two-year deal somewhere next year and at the very least a pay rise at Essendon.

At 30, is he at the age when many players have accepted one-year contracts from then on to finish their careers?

Yes, but those players do so with very little leverage.

Mason Wood just signed a three-year deal and turns 31 in a few days.

Nathan Broad just got offered three years as a 31-year-old.

So Essendon is playing a dangerous game if it believes Stringer will never leave this club.

Culture is a funny thing.

Stringer didn’t jump ship at the Western Bulldogs, he was pushed out through his own mishaps and controversies and found a new home at the Dons.

He might be a loveable rogue, but he has often played hurt to his own detriment – and reputation.

He has often not turned up to pre-season in elite shape, or lost condition through the season.

But from the start of this year as he explored his own faith in a journey of discovery, he pledged his future to the Dons.

“Do I want to play anywhere else? Absolutely not. My home is Essendon, absolutely,” he said in February.

The man himself is not keen on moving. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

So the two parties will haggle, while clubs looking for goalkickers will kick his tyres and wonder if they might secure him for a late pick and a reasonable but not ridiculous salary.

Here is the question Brad Scott needs to ask.

What is the Essendon forward line like next year without him?

In a year where the blowtorch will be focused on Scott’s backside in a no-excuse season where he simply must play finals.

In a 2025 season where full back Ben McKay will again be paid up to $1.4 million (in a front-ended deal) surely it’s worth paying Stringer a reasonable salary – call it $750,000 – with at the very least a very attainable games-based clause for a second season.

Or just give him a two-year deal as a show of faith in Stringer so he doesn’t have to play hurt to try to hit that trigger.

His management team wasn’t able to secure Christian Petracca an escape from Melbourne but getting Stringer two years for a later pick surely would be a walk in the park elsewhere.

Right now Essendon’s message is that Essendon doesn’t trust Stringer.

What will the Bombers offer? Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

To turn up in good nick in November, to deliver on game day, to keep fit through the season.

Without him Essendon has the dependable Kyle Langford (43 goals this year), then VFL-bound Peter Wright, the flighty Gresham, the wingman-half forward Harrison Jones (18 goals in 21 games), and 10 gamer Nate Caddy.

So Essendon is involved in a high-stakes game of brinkmanship that at worst threatens to anger Stringer’s teammates over the club’s lack of commitment to a key member of their team.

Get it right and they secure a highly motivated team player who is in the right frame of mind to reprise this season’s excellent goal tally.

Get it wrong and they lose a quality player for little – and alienate their own fan base and playing group.

2024’S BARGAIN BIN FORWARDS UP FOR GRABS

TIM MEMBREY (ST KILDA)

He wants to know if Ross Lyon has him as an integral member of his front six in 2025 and beyond.

He does have an ongoing knee issue which requires management but he kicked 30 goals from 19 games, the third season in the past four with that tally (he played only seven games in 2023).

It seems the Saints are happy for him to assess his options elsewhere.

As an unrestricted free agent the 30-year-old would easily find a home with clubs including Collingwood, Melbourne and even North Melbourne looking for forward options.

MATT OWIES (CARLTON)

Blues fans will tell you he’s maybe a touch slow and isn’t an elite pressure player.

But he has kicked 33.13 this year, doesn’t have a Carlton contract offer and on Champion Data stats this year is above average in forward 50 marks, forward 50 groundballs, forward 50 pressure, goals, and accuracy.

It’s a nice little package. He’s only 27 and while he’s not a superstar, clubs would get him for a later pick if he was deemed surplus to requirements.

He could be forgiven for looking for some security.

Is Jack Martin a risk worth taking? Picture: Mark Stewart

JACK MARTIN (CARLTON)

It will be a hail Mary given he has broken down in two of the three games he has played this year but someone will give Martin a contract even though he turns 30 in January and has a soft tissue history that goes forever.

Why? Because he has talent and showed as recently as last year with 16 goals from round 15 onwards that he can play tough, hard footy hitting the scoreboard regularly.

NATHAN KREUGER (COLLINGWOOD)

He’s still unsigned at Collingwood at a club keen to bring in more key forwards.

And while he has an injury history that includes problematic shoulders, he’s that very rare commodity – a forward-ruck who can chop out for a starting ruckman for seven minutes a quarter without being a liability who has to come off the bench.

He would prefer to stay but he’s not locked in at Collingwood yet.