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.”

 

[Lore]

Did not get out of puffer jacket and join in at training on Friday alongside Ridley and Laverde for what it is worth. Might be a bit sore maybe?

On Friday? and then played Saturday night?

They must be on light duties. We know Ridley stuffed his knee last week and Laverde's like he's been in a war zone lately.

Haven't heard anything about Stringer but if he's carrying an injury that might explain it.

 

[DERO]

On Friday? and then played Saturday night?

They must be on light duties. We know Ridley stuffed his knee last week and Laverde's like he's been in a war zone lately.

Haven't heard anything about Stringer but if he's carrying an injury that might explain it.

On Friday. I honestly don’t know but we did notice those three taking it very easy while everyone else did their thing. Maybe some niggles/ soreness?

 

[dank420_]

OUT: fat.

 

[Bipolar Bear]

This is my favourite part of the Jake Stringer

20

Jake Stringer

Age

31

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.9

3star

K

8.5

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.5

4star

G

1.8

5star

D

8.5

2star

K

7.0

3star

HB

1.5

1star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.8

4star

G

2.5

5star

D

7.2

2star

K

4.8

2star

HB

2.4

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

1.4

4star

G

1.4

5star

journey, the moment you start to question him he tears a game apart for you.
You watch, 4 goals this weekend and a bunch of clearances and tackles.

 

[ant555]

Did not get out of puffer jacket and join in at training on Friday alongside Ridley and Laverde for what it is worth. Might be a bit sore maybe?

Something is going on. Has had no midfield minutes in the last 2 games and he is not moving all that well.

 

[ant555]

VFL watchers; would Voss offer more than Stringer right now, given that Perkins has been taking his midfield minutes?

Not sure he would offer more but if you where looking to rest Stringer for a couple of games then I would say yes give Voss a look.

 

[Darealrath]

He was running on the weekend like he had weights in his boots.

Big call given the importance of this game but I'd give him a week off and hopefully he's freshened up a bit for the rest of the run home.

 

[Bipolar Bear]

This is my favourite part of the Jake Stringer journey, the moment you start to question him he tears a game apart for you.
You watch, 4 goals this weekend and a bunch of clearances and tackles.

 

[Bipolar Bear]

I did this.

 

[Tassieboy]

Let’s be honest, he’s been shit this year.

 

[fairbump_playon]

I did this.

I know it's a long time since you broke it but I hope your leg is ok.

You need to do a much better preseason. Lay off the korean fried chicken.

 

[quotemokc]

Bobbing up for one or two ridiculous goals every few games isn't enough.

He isn't even having an impact at centre clearances like he used to.

 

[DeezNuts]

He is so unfit it’s a joke

Whether it’s injury or general fitness he’s so far off AFL standards at the moment and it’s honestly a joke he played tonight over Menzie

 

[eth-dog]

Clearly playing injured.

 

[Dons4days]

Have a run in the twos Jake

 

[Dudoro]

He is so unfit it’s a joke

Whether it’s injury or general fitness he’s so far off AFL standards at the moment and it’s honestly a joke he played tonight over Menzie

It’s embarrassing for the club and those who picked the team

 

[andleanback]

Going off the Scott presser I doubt he plays next week.

 

[Zach Package]

We already ask too much of him, for him to do it half cooked has never worked for us.

He’s supposed to be the big physical presence in the forward line laying tackles, the arsey goal talisman, the breakaway hit to player at centre bounces and sometimes the defensive physical presence at stoppage. That’s a lot of hats.

He’s become a far more well rounded player this year but that’s at the expense of some of the Stringer stuff we know and love.

 

[eth-dog]

Also 100 club games his next one

 

[wichidi]

Not the impactful Jake we know last night. Must be bloody hard fronting up knowing you’re injured and likely to have a * game. Then have to log on to BF read the comments

 

[MiguelM]

Has been poor the last few weeks but not the only one.

Perkins, Guelfi, Snelling, Durham also.

 

[Yoda_]

Hey dergert imagine being such a f wit you need to laugh at posts from 6 years ago.

At least contribute instead of being a dick shit

 

[ant555]

Watching Stringer all his career and tackling is not a great priority for him , wasn’t at the dogs and not much better now.
He is a big body , no excuses really.

It actually has been improved this year and in parts last year. Problem is he now looks like he is playing injured and can not get into the game.

 

[Gumby2Hurley]

3 weeks in a row he's looked pedestrian in the forward line. looks injured.

 

[citizen-erased]

3 weeks in a row he's looked pedestrian in the forward line. looks injured.

someone mentioned he didnt train as much this week?

Given we've really limited his time in the middle, this might be the case, and even hampered he's still better than any other option forward....which i dispute when we've left Menzie out, Tsatas can shift some magnets, etc.