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.”

 

[ghostdog]

We ****ed up his program.
The Dogs always had him on a modified program. It worked for a lot of the time but he also went of the rails several times.
For us he was good in 2018 and 2019. Nothing much off field and was pretty fit.
2020 was an issue . Started okay but got injured and lost the focus while he was stuck in Melbourne away from the side and support. He came back fat and unfit.
The last two seasons he has been spot on through December and early Jan . Really fit. Doing all the work but the workload was too much for him and he did not make round 1 and as soon as he can not fully train he puts on 5 or 6 kg and loses the fitness. From what I know his broken leg from his under 18 days gives him a running gate that puts pressure on other parts of his body.

We got seduced by his football ability to play midfield as good as most at his best but the fact is his body does not take midfield workload. Was nothing to do with him. He stuck to the program pre season. The ended up with major groin soreness. 2021 it took him 4 games to get going again after missing the first two games.

Last year he can back in round 2 but was not right and not ready. He played with groin soreness all season.

This year he has been on a slow build. Scott mentioned the fact that they have sacrificed some early conditioning work to build him up strength wise in other areas. He has had a bit of back soreness but is now back doing normal running and some ball work.

5 or 6kg that quickly spins me out. Seems unreal.

 

[ant555]

5 or 6kg that quickly spins me out. Seems unreal.

I had to stop carb loading on a Friday night as I would put on 2kg. It was the trend back when I played but it was not for me. It happens to some of us.

 

[Lore]

I had to stop carb loading on a Friday night as I would put on 2kg. It was the trend back when I played but it was not for me. It happens to some of us.

I think it’s still the trend… lots of players when asked talk about their favourite meal of the week being the night before the game because they can have pizza and chips and all that kinda crap.

 

[dank420_]

I think it’s still the trend… lots of players when asked talk about their favourite meal of the week being the night before the game because they can have pizza and chips and all that kinda crap.

It works for them because they are supremely fitter than those running around in the ammos.

Sorry Ant!

 

[Lore]

It works for them because they are supremely fitter than those running around in the ammos.

Sorry Ant!

+ poor old Stringer

 

[dank420_]

+ poor old Stringer

He’s eating burgers

 

[ant555]

It works for them because they are supremely fitter than those running around in the ammos.

Sorry Ant!

Agree. No offence taken .
Although at the time I was pretty fit. Not AFL level but next level. My week was 3 nights training. 3km swim twice a week. Usually 15 to 20km on the bike every week and also a decent recovery session on Sunday morning. Also kept up the swimming and bike over summer with some running and cricket.
Not that you would know now if you saw me.

 

[ant555]

Not playing this week. In full training but still has some of his training block to complete so he is ready to go.

 

[Lore]

Forward 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

will not be available for Essendon’s opening round clash against Hawthorn.

The Bombers’ excitement-machine succumbed to a hamstring strain in the lead-up to the practice game against the Gold Coast Suns.

Stringer has progressively built up his training loads to ensure he has unrestricted training with the main group.

General Manager of Performance Daniel McPherson said the 28-year-old has put in a solid two-week block of running and kicking with his injury progressing well.

“Our performance team have put together a comprehensive plan with Jake to get him back to his best post injury. He participated in a strong session on Saturday, and we want to make sure he has block of full training with the main group before he is available for selection,” McPherson said.

“It’s a long season ahead and we want to ensure Jake is fully ready to go when he returns to play, so we won’t be rushing him back.”

Injury news: Stringer ruled out for round one

All the latest injury news ahead of our opening game against the Hawks.

www.essendonfc.com.au

 

[Zach Package]

Talk about a low base, Stringer not playing because he’s not fit to play is in face an immeasurable improvement on what we would normally do

 

[yodellinhank]

Talk about a low base, Stringer not playing because he’s not fit to play is in face an immeasurable improvement on what we would normally do

I said the same twelve months ago.

 

[BrunoV]

Who came up with this dumb concept of fat shaming Stringer?

He's a professional athlete and can't make it through a pre-season to which he turns up overweight (3 or 4 years in a row now).

His being (sports) fat wouldn't be an issue if he was available 20 weeks a year and played well consistently. Some suspect physiques Hurley had throughout his career were barely mentioned. Jeremy McGovern

20

Jeremy Mcgovern

Age

33

Ht

197cm

Wt

97kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.7

4star

K

10.1

4star

HB

4.6

3star

M

6.8

5star

T

1.5

3star

MG

238.7

4star

D

12.4

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

6.4

5star

T

2.0

3star

MG

183.4

3star

D

11.0

3star

K

8.8

4star

HB

2.2

2star

M

7.2

5star

T

1.4

4star

is another who has had a suspect physique.

Stinger is paid north of $600k a year and not professional enough to stay in shape and it costs us. If we're serious he will be traded at the end of the year and it won't matter if we can't get more than a third round pick.

 

[Zach Package]

Who came up with this dumb concept of fat shaming Stringer?

He's a professional athlete and can't make it through a pre-season to which he turns up overweight (3 or 4 years in a row now).

His being (sports) fat wouldn't be an issue if he was available 20 weeks a year and played well consistently. Some suspect physiques Hurley had throughout his career were barely mentioned. Jeremy McGovern is another who has had a suspect physique.

Stinger is paid north of $600k a year and not professional enough to stay in shape and it costs us. If we're serious he will be traded at the end of the year and it won't matter if we can't get more than a third round pick.

Same people who decided Melksham was on steroids because he looked vascular in 15 seconds of video footage.

The problem isn’t that HE looks any more unfit than he has at any point in his career, the problem is that WE have proven incapable of building his base to the point where him missing 3 weeks of pre season doesn’t catastrophically ruin his year.

He should have gone to Geelong when given the chance.

 

[BrunoV]

Same people who decided Melksham was on steroids because he looked vascular in 15 seconds of video footage.

The problem isn’t that HE looks any more unfit than he has at any point in his career, the problem is that WE have proven incapable of building his base to the point where him missing 3 weeks of pre season doesn’t catastrophically ruin his year.

He should have gone to Geelong when given the chance.

How exactly do we fail to build the base of a 28 year old with 10 years in the game?

It is purely on Stringer. He chooses whether to take responsibility for his career. He had chosen not to.

Yes he should have gone to Geelong because that team can wear the bad and just focus on the good.

 

[Zach Package]

How exactly do we fail to build the base of a 28 year old with 10 years in the game?

It is purely on Stringer. He chooses whether to take responsibility for his career. He had chosen not to.

Yes he should have gone to Geelong because that team can wear the bad and just focus on the good.

The same reason Geelong can get Jeremy Cameron back from a hamstring strain in 2 and a half weeks without missing a beat when it’s a 6 week injury for everyone else. They’re good, we’re not.

He should have gone to Geelong because the evidence shows us they can build a higher fitness base, better than anyone else out there and their players come back faster, without missing a beat.

They can look after him, the dogs could look after him, the evidence suggests we cannot.

 

[Lore]

The same reason Geelong can get Jeremy Cameron back from a hamstring strain in 2 and a half weeks without missing a beat when it’s a 6 week injury for everyone else. They’re good, we’re not.

He should have gone to Geelong because the evidence shows us they can build a higher fitness base, better than anyone else out there and their players come back faster, without missing a beat.

They can look after him, the dogs could look after him, the evidence suggests we cannot.

Have they been investing more heavily in sports science than anyone else, or is it dumb luck?

 

[Zach Package]

Have they been investing more heavily in sports science than anyone else, or is it dumb luck?

I don’t think it’s luck, Dangerfield in particular speaks glowingly about Geelong’s ability to build exceptionally high base levels which means they bounce back from injury faster and someone like Stewart can come back from a long enforced layoff and look like he’s missed no time.

I think they’ve just cracked the code. Meanwhile we’re at the opposite end of the spectrum with a player who probably needs that considered approach that we cannot provide.

 

[yodellinhank]

Send him to Lance Whitnall's fat camp.

 

[ant555]

I don’t think it’s luck, Dangerfield in particular speaks glowingly about Geelong’s ability to build exceptionally high base levels which means they bounce back from injury faster and someone like Stewart can come back from a long enforced layoff and look like he’s missed no time.

I think they’ve just cracked the code. Meanwhile we’re at the opposite end of the spectrum with a player who probably needs that considered approach that we cannot provide.

Maybe the players are better drilled as far as rehab goes. They have had plenty of long term injuries. Zack Merrett came back earlier than expected last year.
Could also be part of their drafting policy .

 

[BrunoV]

The same reason Geelong can get Jeremy Cameron back from a hamstring strain in 2 and a half weeks without missing a beat when it’s a 6 week injury for everyone else. They’re good, we’re not.

He should have gone to Geelong because the evidence shows us they can build a higher fitness base, better than anyone else out there and their players come back faster, without missing a beat.

They can look after him, the dogs could look after him, the evidence suggests we cannot.

Dangerfield went like a busted arse in 2021 as did Cameron. As I read what happened there, they learned from their mistakes. Scott said as much.

The Cats couldn't get Cockatoo up and running. They will have had their fair share of players they have struggled to get right. Esava strikes me as one but I'm not prepared to die on that hill.

I'm as much a fan of Geelong, and respect what they do as much, as anyone who doesn't specifically follow them. They don't have a magic wand.

Stringer was essentially shown the door by a reasonably strong outfit that had just won a flag. Bevo punted him publicly in a moment of surgery induced stupor if I remember correctly.

It is not just our operation that has struggled with Stringer. The objective evidence is that he lacks professionalism. It is extremely close to being an incontestable fact that players who do not properly prepare themselves suffer injury problems.

In addition, not everything we do is wrong. Laverede, Ridley and Redman all started with a lot of bad luck and missed a lot of footy early. They have become very durable. Baldwin hasn't missed a beat in about 20 months after consecutive ACLs. Tex got through his first year unscathed off no base and injury problems.

 

[Zach Package]

Dangerfield went like a busted arse in 2021 as did Cameron. As I read what happened there, they learned from their mistakes. Scott said as much.

The Cats couldn't get Cockatoo up and running. They will have had their fair share of players they have struggled to get right. Esava strikes me as one but I'm not prepared to die on that hill.

I'm as much a fan of Geelong, and respect what they do as much, as anyone who doesn't specifically follow them. They don't have a magic wand.

Stringer was essentially shown the door by a reasonably strong outfit that had just won a flag. Bevo punted him publicly in a moment of surgery induced stupor if I remember correctly.

It is not just our operation that has struggled with Stringer. The objective evidence is that he lacks professionalism. It is extremely close to being an incontestable fact that players who do not properly prepare themselves suffer injury problems.

In addition, not everything we do is wrong. Laverede, Ridley and Redman all started with a lot of bad luck and missed a lot of footy early. They have become very durable. Baldwin hasn't missed a beat in about 20 months after consecutive ACLs. Tex got through his first year unscathed off no base and injury problems.

Can do an ACL rehab standing on our arse, we have a very good record there and to be clear, I don’t doubt our ability to rehab a knee or a back or whatever else.

I doubt that we are smart enough to take a considered approach and think our way through managing a power athlete who will always have that lingering spectre of the broken leg hanging over him and his preparation and come up with a plan that doesn’t result in the same thing happening over and over again for the same reasons.

 

[BringFevBack2021]

I doubt that we are smart enough to take a considered approach and think our way through managing a power athlete who will always have that lingering spectre of the broken leg hanging over him and his preparation and come up with a plan that doesn’t result in the same thing happening over and over again for the same reasons.

Nothing to do with his broken leg, or your Footy dept. being intelligent enough to manage him appropriately.. Stringer does put in the work, but it's always reactionary. The proactive recommendations he gets are not followed, nor does he present in good shape coming back from the off-season. When things go wrong, Jake does bust his chops to get back out there. Jake is extremely good at following rehab protocols.

 

[dank420_]

Send him to Lance Whitnall's fat camp.

 

[Zach Package]

Nothing to do with his broken leg, or your Footy dept. being intelligent enough to manage him appropriately.. Stringer does put in the work, but it's always reactionary. The proactive recommendations he gets are not followed, nor does he present in good shape coming back from the off-season. When things go wrong, Jake does bust his chops to get back out there. Jake is extremely good at following rehab protocols.

And as far as I’m concerned that’s a club wide thing for us, not a him thing.

Which leads me to believe it’s less than stellar management on our end.

 

[BringFevBack2021]

And as far as I’m concerned that’s a club wide thing for us, not a him thing.

Which leads me to believe it’s less than stellar management on our end.

You'd be surprised how good the majority of your club is in this area