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.”

 

[jmoo wan]

Have seen him at the gym at 530am before training. Last player i would of expected to see. Good sign if nothing else.

that’s good, hopefully he came straight from revs

 

[Beerfish]

Looked in decent(ish) shape in the training pics the club posted today too.

 

[citizen-erased]

Have seen him at the gym at 530am before training. Last player i would of expected to see. Good sign if nothing else.

Contract year

 

[yodellinhank]

Did somebody say KFC?

 

[andleanback]

Looked in decent(ish) shape in the training pics the club posted today too.

The 3 week hammy is just around the corner and he’ll return to his usual in season shape

 

[fairbump_playon]

The 3 week hammy is just around the corner and he’ll return to his usual in season shape

You brute

 

[Bombers36]

Are we all a bit too hard on this beautiful beast..?? I know I can be...
I just want to see Jake at or near his best in 2024...its contract year so lets hope he pulls out all stops.
I read in another thread people think Archie Perkins should be selected in our 23 before Jake...I mean - comon...!! As much as I like Archie he shouldn't be spoken about in the same sentence as Jake..IMO Jake still has more X factor of any player in our side - and strength and flair few other players in the competition can match - let alone Perkins...People seem to forget how good he was in 2021, and the fact that he has been club leading goal kicker 6 times, is a premiership player, all Australian and all round wrecking ball..
Please dont give up on Jake people - I implore you - please..!!

 

[ghostdog]

Are we all a bit too hard on this beautiful beast..?? I know I can be...
I just want to see Jake at or near his best in 2024...its contract year so lets hope he pulls out all stops.
I read in another thread people think Archie Perkins should be selected in our 23 before Jake...I mean - comon...!! As much as I like Archie he shouldn't be spoken about in the same sentence as Jake..IMO Jake still has more X factor of any player in our side - and strength and flair few other players in the competition can match - let alone Perkins...People seem to forget how good he was in 2021, and the fact that he has been club leading goal kicker 6 times, is a premiership player, all Australian and all round wrecking ball..
Please dont give up on Jake people - I implore you - please..!!

Do not visit the trade-draft thread, for your own good.

 

[dank420_]

Are we all a bit too hard on this beautiful beast..?? I know I can be...
I just want to see Jake at or near his best in 2024...its contract year so lets hope he pulls out all stops.
I read in another thread people think Archie Perkins should be selected in our 23 before Jake...I mean - comon...!! As much as I like Archie he shouldn't be spoken about in the same sentence as Jake..IMO Jake still has more X factor of any player in our side - and strength and flair few other players in the competition can match - let alone Perkins...People seem to forget how good he was in 2021, and the fact that he has been club leading goal kicker 6 times, is a premiership player, all Australian and all round wrecking ball..
Please dont give up on Jake people - I implore you - please..!!

He needs to give up the 3 piece feeds. Until then we give up on him.

 

[Maxabillions]

Hopefully he just gets one year contracts if any from now, so every year is a contract year for him.

 

[Kong]

$10 says he plays less than 15 games this year.

It'll take him 2 or 3 games to hit any form after each return from injury.

But he'll play some outstanding football at the end of the season, just in time to get another contract.

 

[Beerfish]

Gamble responsibly

 

[jmoo wan]

$10 says he plays less than 15 games this year.

It'll take him 2 or 3 games to hit any form after each return from injury.

But he'll play some outstanding football at the end of the season, just in time to get another contract.

i’ll take that!

if he plays 15 games (including finals - lol!!) you are me a tenner

 

[fishardansin]

Gamble responsibly

fixed

 

[Happyskeret]

I don’t think anyone doubts his ability. At his best he reaches a level that only a handful of others in the league could match. He had a poor year last year even for his inconsistent standards.

The question is can he reach that high level again and how are they going to manage him? It seems like they are taking the cotton wool approach.

 

[blitzer]

I'm thinking we won't see his peak form again but we will get a better version than we saw last year where he basically had no preseason and came into the preseason being unable to run for a sustained period of time due to concussion issues.
To me the best use of Jake is getting a 2 goal a game medium forward. We've got a lot more options through the midfield now, we really don't need him there except for the odd cameo given our developing youngsters.

Jake is getting on in age and given how injury prone he's becoming its unlikely we'll see too much upside because whenever he's on a roll he'll end up doing a soft tissue injury or similar and he always gets exposed on return from injury. That said I think he could still be a handy contributor.

In terms of his contract - I'd be looking at one year deals going forward and if he's not happy with that then I'd be willing to part ways. That said if he really performs above expectation then a 2 year deal is still within the realms of consideration.

 

[faible]

I'm thinking we won't see his peak form again but we will get a better version than we saw last year where he basically had no preseason and came into the preseason being unable to run for a sustained period of time due to concussion issues.
To me the best use of Jake is getting a 2 goal a game medium forward. We've got a lot more options through the midfield now, we really don't need him there except for the odd cameo given our developing youngsters.

Jake is getting on in age and given how injury prone he's becoming its unlikely we'll see too much upside because whenever he's on a roll he'll end up doing a soft tissue injury or similar and he always gets exposed on return from injury. That said I think he could still be a handy contributor.

In terms of his contract - I'd be looking at one year deals going forward and if he's not happy with that then I'd be willing to part ways. That said if he really performs above expectation then a 2 year deal is still within the realms of consideration.

Stringer being in a contract year, every year, might be the best way to keep him at his best.

 

[bombreys]

Stringer being in a contract year, every year, might be the best way to keep him at his best.

Reckon if he pulled one out of his backside another team would offer him 2 years..?

 

[Milanista28]

Reckon if he pulled one out of his backside another team would offer him 2 years..?

I think a club who believe they were super close to a flag and needed some icing would consider it, He's not an off field risk anymore, life seems settled.

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

Should be able to leave him up forward instead of rotating him through the centre for the first time in a long time too.

 

[Beerfish]

Should be able to leave him up forward instead of rotating him through the centre for the first time in a long time too.

Still an absolute weapon up forward when on but even when he's not on the opposition know he's around. He's a constant threat.

 

[JayJ20]

Still an absolute weapon up forward when on but even when he's not on the opposition know he's around. He's a constant threat.

Should the forwardline remain healthy, it'll be the best looking forwardline in a very long time. Very deep.

Langford, Wright, Menzie, Gresham, Stringer, Perkins + resting ruck, Jones, Caddy. Plenty of options and balanced, particularly if Menzie becomes that pressure small forward. Not to mention guys like Shiel and Caldwell will rotate through the forwardline as well. Guelfi as depth.

Plenty to work with.

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

Should the forwardline remain healthy, it'll be the best looking forwardline in a very long time. Very deep.

Langford, Wright, Menzie, Gresham, Stringer, Perkins + resting ruck, Jones, Caddy. Plenty of options and balanced, particularly if Menzie becomes that pressure small forward. Not to mention guys like Shiel and Caldwell will rotate through the forwardline as well. Guelfi as depth.

Plenty to work with.

Don't forget the Davey twins too, I'm almost more excited to see how stacked with talent the VFL forward line is gonna be.

 

[eth-dog]

Should the forwardline remain healthy, it'll be the best looking forwardline in a very long time. Very deep.

Langford, Wright, Menzie, Gresham, Stringer, Perkins + resting ruck, Jones, Caddy. Plenty of options and balanced, particularly if Menzie becomes that pressure small forward. Not to mention guys like Shiel and Caldwell will rotate through the forwardline as well. Guelfi as depth.

Plenty to work with.

That looks really slow and really small at the same time b

 

[ant555]

Looks in good nick right now.