Former Magpies president Eddie McGuire speculates on Jake Stringer’s future

Ex-Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has speculated on whether Jake Stringer would fit in at the Magpies as the Bomber contemplates his future.

Could Jake Stringer leave the Bombers? Picture: Mark Stewart

Former president Eddie McGuire has thrown Collingwood into the mix for an audacious swoop for Jake Stringer.

Stringer’s future at Essendon remains uncertain after reportedly being offered a one-year deal.

As the Herald Sun revealed recently, the 30-year-old has ticked off a games-based trigger to stay at Essendon in 2025.

But it has been suggested a two-year offer could prise the matchwinner out of Tullamarine.

McGuire said the addition of Stringer, who kicked 42 goals in 23 games this season, would give the Magpies “two De Goeys”.

“I think the Pies were very keen that they could win it this year and in the last month probably proved that they could - even with all the injuries they had,” McGuire said on the Eddie and Jimmy podcast.

Stringer had a solid season in red and black. Picture: Getty Images

“So if they could stack it up (and) get everybody back in and you get a couple of extra explosive types.

“If you have Stringer and you have De Goey who are similar types, explosive but get a few injuries.

“But you have got them one in the centre and one in the forward line, so you’ve got two De Goeys if you like, it’s half compelling.”

McGuire said the Magpies would want to know Stringer was “fit and firing” after his fitness and professionalism were questioned this season.

“But I would suggest that if he came to Collingwood there would be enough eyes on him to say, ‘mate, don’t turn up like you have been in a paddock all summer’,” McGuire said.

“If you said to Collingwood, ‘you can have Stringer and he’ll probably pinch you a premiership and then you might have a couple of years of fallow time, what do you think they do? I think they say yes.”

Bobby Hill was Collingwood’s leading goalkicker this year with 30 majors, with injury restricting key target Brody Mihocek to 11 games.

In April, Pies president Jeff Browne declared the club would focus on trade and free agency to remain a premiership threat.

“We don’t intend to go to the bottom of the ladder, so we can never really rely on the draft,” Browne said.

“We have got to trade, like we did last year with those four players (Mitchell, McStay, Hill and Frampton) and then we pick up Oleg Markov, and this year we get Lachie Schultz.

“We have to trade to improve our side. For successful clubs who don’t want to drop down to the bottom, the draft doesn’t really work for them.”

Pies coach Craig McRae said after the club’s round 24 win over Melbourne that a key forward was top of his trade wish-list.

In February, Stringer said Essendon was “home” and he had no intention of finishing his career at a third club.