‘Freak’ Jake Stringer produces Goal of the Year contender as Bombers fly

An AFL star reminded the league why he’s one of the biggest show stoppers as one coach exploded on his own playing group.

Kingsley wasn't happy, Stringer had a day out

Essendon produced a stunning second half to run over the top of the GWS Giants on Sunday afternoon to launch back into the top four on the ladder.

Bombers coach Brad Scott was pulling his hair out during the opening half as his side wasted chance after chance in front of goal.

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The Giants on the other hand took every opportunity that came their way as they held a 10-point advantage at halftime despite having five less shots on goal.

But in the third quarter the tide began to turn as the Bombers behind the mercurial play of Jake Stringer stole the momentum.

A five goal to three display saw the Bombers pinch the lead and left Giants coach Adam Kingsley seeing red as he launched a stunning tirade at his own troops.

As the players huddled around their coach, Kingsley unloaded in a visceral outburst.

“There was a vicious spray at 3QT. Before they even got to their groups he grabbed the whole group. It’ll be on all the shows tomorrow the way he sprayed his players,” Mick Barlow said on SEN.

The spray didn’t go the way he’d hoped as the Bombers pounced kicking three unanswered goals to extend their lead out to 25-points.

Stringer put the cherry on top of the cake for the Bombers by unleashing a torpedo from well outside 50 that sailed through the big sticks.

The goal of the year contender gave him his fourth goal for the day. He ultimately finished with four goals and six behinds.

Stringer brings out the barrel! #AFLDonsGiantspic.twitter.com/XvwSFnOtjp

— AFL (@AFL) April 9, 2023

Stringer = FREAK.

— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) April 9, 2023

Stringer’s torp an early contender for goal of the year!

— Tom Browne (@TomBrowne7) April 9, 2023

The Giants found life in the dying stages of the final quarter as Toby Greene and Harry Himmelberg kicked goals.

With the margin back down to 13 points the Giants threw everything they had at the Bombers, but it was too little too late.

The win puts the Bombers into third place on the ladder after the opening four games, behind the undefeated St Kilda and Carlton.

For the Giants they’re wallowing in 14th place having won only one game in the opening month.

Giants midfield bull Tom Green led the charge with 34 disposals, but it was the Bombers midfield trio of Darcy Parish, Zach Merrett and Dylan Shiel that proved too strong.

The trio combined for 86 disposals, 18 clearances and were the top three players on the ground for metres gained with a whopping 1816 metres.

The Bombers look threatening in 2023. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

In what was a dour contest for the most part, that was marred by poor skills from both teams, the Bombers found themselves on an appalling 4.16 during the third quarter.

Stringer (six), Jye Caldwell (three) and Jye Menzie (two) were the biggest culprits, combining for 11 behinds, while Caldwell also booted one on the full and Menzie had a shot that failed to score.

The Bombers battered the Giants in contested possessions (147-129), inside 50s (61-51) and scoring shots (33-20), but had to wait until very late to get the game under their control.

In a match that was largely bereft of class and polish, the silky Nic Martin stood out like a sore thumb for the Bombers with his poise and composure apparent in each of his 24 disposals (nine contested) and two goals, while Mason Redman produced another superb performance from defence finishing with 26 touches, six tackles and a goal.

– with Ronny Lerner, NCA Newswire

Originally published as ‘Freak’ Jake Stringer produces Goal of the Year contender as Bombers fly