By Peter Ryan and Marc McGowan
The Jake Stringer question just won’t go away.
Will a club be prepared to offer a talented, yet flawed, player a new deal despite the chance of negative headlines?
Nothing from Stringer’s recent past will affect the market for him too much. His reputation – whether deserved or unfair – already saw him heading to the market with a “buyer beware” sign around his neck.
Jake Stringer will be a headline during the trade period as he seeks a two-year deal.Credit: Getty Images
That’s his lot, as he took longer to mature than many when he hit the competition like a shooting star, an All-Australian, club-leading goalkicker and premiership player before he turned 23. With a nickname, “the Package”, that was difficult to live up to, he moved from the Western Bulldogs to the Bombers in 2018.
Now, Stringer faces the prospect of another fresh start. As this masthead revealed, Essendon are willing to give him – at age 30 – only a one-year deal rather than the two he wants, after a 42-goal season that was his most prolific since the Dogs’ 2016 flag campaign.
The Bombers, with a coach in Brad Scott who is hoping to lay a foundation for sustained success, are not budging.
They are steadfast that his contract with them will last only until the end of next season, and if he proves himself worthy of another one at the end of 2025, they will consider it then.
No one doubts Bombers star Jake Stringer’s talent.Credit: Getty Images
But Essendon won’t lose any sleep if he finds a club that wants his goalkicking prowess on its books for the next two seasons. They understand his desire for more security, but can’t, or won’t, offer it. It’s a pragmatic approach.
No one doubts Stringer has the talent to kick goals. He averages 1.73 goals a game across his career and provides a spark few other players can with his burst of acceleration – and a leg that kicks goals from unlikely positions.
There are knocks on his defensive pressure, his consistency, and whether the goals come against the strongest of his opponents.
So far, the suitors have not bitten, or at least are reluctant at this stage to publicly confirm their interest, even though Stringer has, according to AFL Media, been confident enough in his appeal to tell people he has played his last game for Essendon.
Sydney have been linked to the goalkicker, but a senior source who preferred to remain anonymous to discuss list issues said the Swans have had no discussions with Stringer’s management about him playing for the club.
Collingwood kicked the tyres on Stringer, but eventually decided he was not the player for them, with this masthead confirming through an industry source who wanted to remain anonymous that he was not a target at this stage.
Other clubs have been more circumspect, but it’s fair to say whatever appeal he holds outside the Bombers has been well hidden to this point.
However, there is no hurry to find a home for him right now, with the trade period running until October 16.
Connors Sports, who represent Stringer, have been around for long enough to know a player in his position does not necessarily appeal as a priority, but he may become more attractive to clubs as time passes.
He is on the trade table. Everyone can afford to wait.
Melbourne have been starved for goals and expressed some interest in Stringer in the past, but it would be a bold signing for a club undergoing reviews everywhere you look.
St Kilda have been starved of success, but apart from Jack Macrae, are likely to chase youth, although their respected national recruiter Simon Dalrymple drafted Stringer. Hawthorn have enough recruits knocking on their door, but a cheap Stringer might appeal to Sam Mitchell’s redemptive approach.
Geelong are unlikely with Bailey Smith on the way, while North Melbourne have landed Jack Darling and won’t need Stringer, who does not fit their timeline.
Richmond could appeal, having few goalkickers, but they, too, are in what shapes as an extended rebuild under Adem Yze. It is unlikely that Stringer would be interested in the Tigers’ situation either.
We can rule out a return to the Western Bulldogs, and Carlton’s salary cap is stretched enough, they have a list spot shortage and already boast two Coleman medallists.
Stringer, as always, is a fascinating watch, as clubs consider the age-old question: does his upside outweigh the downside, particularly on the wrong side of 30?
And if he doesn’t find a new home, the expectation is the old dog can return to the Bombers to prepare for 2025.
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