Traded #25: Jake Stringer - 📦 Traded to GWS for Pick #53 - 16/10

[faible]

Whilst many of our players have had interrupted pre-seasons it sounds like Stringer is as fit as he's ever been in his time here

AFL 2020: Jake Stringer Essendon, best pre-season ever, Bombers injuries

In the midst of his club’s wretched summer injury run, Essendon gun Jake Stringer says he’s never been in better shape after experiencing one of his best and smoothest pre-seasons of his AFL career.

www.foxsports.com.au

In the midst of his club’s wretched summer injury run, Essendon gun Jake Stringer says he’s never been in better shape after experiencing one of his best and smoothest pre-seasons of his AFL career.

A host of key Bombers have, at different stages over the past few months, battled a range of injuries or suffered setbacks, including Joe Daniher (groin), Cale Hooker (hip), Dylan Shiel (knee) David Zaharakis (knee), Dyson Heppell (foot), Michael Hurley (shoulder) and Orazio Fantasia (hip).

However Stringer, who battled foot, knee and hamstring issues to play 19 of a possible 23 games in 2019, has not just been a constant presence on the track, but also one of Essendon’s best trainers.

In his eighth AFL pre-season, Stringer recently ran a personal best in the 2km time trial, slashing a whopping 20 seconds off his previous top time.

Asked on SEN Breakfast how he was going physically, Stringer cheekily said: “I’m borderline flying at the minute … nah I’m going well.”

The 25-year-old said it’d been “one of the hardest pre-seasons I’ve ever done”. He hailed the influence of the Bombers’ new head of strength and conditioning Sean Murphy, who’s come across from Hawthorn and “really tested us physically and mentally”.

“Not being injured is a massive part and I don't think I've missed a session the whole pre-season, which is all you can ask for when you go into a pre-season is complete as many sessions as you can. I’d be probably in the top one or two at the club that hasn’t missed,” Stringer told SEN on Friday morning.

Asked if it’d been one of his smoothest AFL pre-seasons yet, Stringer declared: “Yeah, by far.

“Last year was pretty good, but this year’s been taken to a new level with Sean Murphy coming across. He's really pushed the boundaries with me.

“It's been a hard slog and, don't worry, I'm looking forward to playing and getting out of this pre-season phase.”

Even though Stringer is “flying”, he said seven or eight teammates are still not in full training, but the “majority of them were running”.

“Not everything's gone to plan, obviously. There's been a few blokes that are still not quite into full training, but that's part of football and part of the pre-season. You’ve just got to deal with whatever comes,” Stringer said.

He later added: “We’re in a great position to able to springboard into the season and hopefully get a few more of these top echelon blokes back.”

The first-round draft pick kicked 98.55 for the Bulldogs in 2015 and 2016 before being traded ahead of the 2018 season to the Bombers, where he’s spent recent summers training with the on-ballers.

Stringer said the plan was still for him to play a mixture of midfield and forward minutes this season, but added he’d been training primarily with the attacking group this pre-season and “honing in on my craft as a forward”.

Stringer said Essendon’s succession plan, which will see senior coach John Worsfold gradually hand the reins to assistant Ben Rutten throughout 2020, was working well. He said Worsfold was at the club everyday and engaged with the players, but Rutten took charge of all tactical discussions and meetings.

“The work that John and Ben have done together has been absolutely outstanding and literally the smoothest transition that you could possibly ever see. It's a credit to both of them how well it's actually gone,” Stringer said.

“I couldn’t be happier with where the club is at the minute.”

Stringer said there’d be a noticeable but not dramatic change to the club’s game plan this season.

“It’ll definitely be a lot more consistent,” Stringer said.

“From a whole learning (process) and even in training, you’re seeing it more and more every time we’re doing bits of match ‘sim’. I think it’ll be very noticeable when people come to watch us.”

 

[Bunk Moreland]

If you want to kill 10 minutes, have a look at Ablett Snr highlights on YouTube. Insane.

Ablett literally had it all. Name a physical attribute or footy skill and Ablett had it.

He was lightning fast, could jump over a house, was strong as a bull, a booming kick on both feet, aggressive as hell and hands like a croc’s jaws. Deadset freak.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

I know we should keep this to Stringer who’s been brilliant, but I remember early in Ablett’s career (‘84) he played for Victoria against WA when state of origin was at its peak. Ablett kicked 7 or 8 I think and looked a class above the best footballers going around.

Do yourself a favour...

 

[BomberTime]

You have to know the past to understand the present...

Haha we all know the past, betting and underage girls. He’s moved on from the that and playing the best consistent football of his life. I guess my own fault for expecting more from Hutchy and co.

 

[Eleven 38]

What a waste of his time... far too many questions about his past and time at the Bulldogs.

On his part, im sure the players get paid well for tv interviews i doubt its wastimg his time.

On my part, I couldnt care less if he went on tv and talked about his grandmas 73rd birthday party as long as i get to watch him kick 90metre goals from centre clearances on the weekend.

 

[Zach Package]

You have to know the past to understand the present...

I think it’s moreso that he’s not very interesting TV fodder otherwise.

He’s a genuine bogan who doesn’t really say a lot and whenever he gets asked about a goal that he’s kicked or something ridiculous he does on field he pretty well always answers something like ‘yeah, just instinct’.

 

[Howard Moon]

Should probably come into All Australian calculation. Outside of Ablett I'm not convinced there has been a better mid-sized forward this year.

think De Goey has him covered in every stat category and will probably get the mid fwd spot

 

[Howard Moon]

You have to know the past to understand the present...

The idea is to remain in a state of constant departure while always arriving. It saves on introductions and goodbyes.

 

[Freshwater]

Let’s face it, they kicked him out because he was up to no good and had a unprofessional attitude.

Change of environment at EFC has done him the world of good and he’s matured as a person.

That sheer natural football talent he possesses doesn’t have to be coached.

All he needed was a wake up call to realise how lucky he is to be a pro footy player and to prepare accordingly...mentally and physically.

EFC has done that for him and we’re seeing the benefits of it all.

Happy days

All true. We miss him. It would have been exactly the same had he won a flag early with you guys, lost the plot, then came to us. He was immature and just had to learn a few hard truths to be a professional. Most guys settle, some take longer than others. He’s actually still young.

 

[NAB777]

I know we should keep this to Stringer who’s been brilliant, but I remember early in Ablett’s career (‘84) he played for Victoria against WA when state of origin was at its peak. Ablett kicked 7 or 8 I think and looked a class above the best footballers going around.

Do yourself a favour...

Alan Jeans was the state coach & didn't want Ablett in the side, because of what he'd experienced of him at Hawthorn.
He even went so far as to suggest that Ablett was a fair chance to not even turn up for the flight. Ted Whitten, who'd been commentating on Geelong games for K Rock, personally guaranteed that he'd make sure Ablett was there.

 

[gimp!]

If you want to kill 10 minutes, have a look at Ablett Snr highlights on YouTube. Insane.

If you want to kill some more time you can check out all of Jake Stringer's first 90 goals. I put these together myself, was even considering continuing this to include Essendon goals, but can't be assed now. This one is goals 70 to 90. Some unreal goals.

 

[Zach Package]

You are a bloody legend for making these gimp!

 

[faible]

think De Goey has him covered in every stat category and will probably get the mid fwd spot

De Goey also has way more hype train about him this year.

 

[Stopher]

If you want to kill some more time you can check out all of Jake Stringer's first 90 goals. I put these together myself, was even considering continuing this to include Essendon goals, but can't be assed now. This one is goals 70 to 90. Some unreal goals.

I loved the Tarantino-esque intro! Nice work.

 

[Shane Heard]

If you want to kill some more time you can check out all of Jake Stringer's first 90 goals. I put these together myself, was even considering continuing this to include Essendon goals, but can't be assed now. This one is goals 70 to 90. Some unreal goals.

Awesome..great work

 

[Donakebab]

 

[Shane Heard]

Interesting....very impressive for Jake considering his fine form for most the majority of his Bulldog days and now even better at bomberland after his slow start last year.

What baffles me is Jo and Steve’s kid!

But then again I’m not surprised. He’s done FA since his debut and apparently he’s had a great year this season at the blues.

I wouldn’t know. I never watch carlton games. And if I happen to glance, all I’m focused on is Cripps.

Anyway...go Jake.. you ####ing gun

 

[Lore]

Midfield line coach says the Dogs needed Stringer more as a forward but at Essendon he is viewed more as a sort of Martin/Dangerfield type player that impacts in the middle and then goes and impacts deep forward as well.

Think he is used that way some weeks more than others, we've needed him more forward with injuries too this year, I guess. It is fun watching him pull the ball out of the middle and kick it 60 metres to bounce through for a goal, when he gets the chance to

 

[VelvetSledge]

Few reports going around saying he's going to miss this week.

Lmao

 

[DonsRule]

 

[Runk]

 

[Stopher]

FFS

 

[doug85]

Back in time for finals!

 

[Duckworth]

why not, seems like everyone else is doing it.

 

[yodellinhank]

Even when it was the gastro, the rain, the just the JLT, the coach, the dododoro, the flu, the 5 day breaks, the trips interstate, the umpires, the pecking order, the captain's haircut and the chemistry... even when it was all that I knew it was the injuries.

 

[TheBrightSide]