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.”

 

[bennyg12]

Poll:

• 20 touches and 4 goals
• subbed off with major hamstring injury in second quarter
• 8 touches, 1 goal, looks off the pace

8 touches, 1 goal, looks off the pace

 

[Beerfish]

Looks off the pace, 28 touches, 5 goals and a hammy in the last 2 minutes of the game.

 

[VelvetSledge]

Looks off the pace, 28 touches, 5 goals and a hammy in the last 2 minutes of the game.

 

[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

has been declared fit for selection after overcoming a hamstring injury.

Despite being deemed “medically available” by senior coach Brad Scott last week, the 28-year-old was held over for an extra week to further build fitness.

Now having checked every required box, GM of High Performance Daniel McPherson says Stringer will suit up for his first game of the season, with a return via the VFL or AFL yet to be decided.

“Jake’s progressed through all his training, he’s ticked off all he needs to do,” McPherson said.

“From a high-performance perspective, he’s good to go and will be available for selection this weekend.”

Injury news: Stringer available for selection

The latest injury news ahead of round two.

www.essendonfc.com.au

 

[tperks]

Big question is, who does he come in for assuming tippa and weid get up

 

[yodellinhank]

Big question is, who does he come in for assuming tippa and weid get up

Bruno Laguda?

 

[The Donners]

Big question is, who does he come in for assuming tippa and weid get up

Langford.

 

[MattyB3150]

Would it be tempting to make stringer as our sub or is he just too important to our line up? Imagine him coming into a game fresh in the second half.

 

[Call Me Cake]

Subsubsubsub

 

[tperks]

I think I’d rather see him start and run him till he’s gassed and then bring someone in like Menzie, Caldwell or Hep for his flexibility

 

[eth-dog]

Langford.

Never change Donners. Always choose the dumb option

 

[MattyB3150]

I think I’d rather see him start and run him till he’s gassed and then bring someone in like Menzie, Caldwell or Hep for his flexibility

I hope Menzie keeps his starting spot. His defensive efforts are too good to leave out.

 

[Vindicater]

I think I’d rather see him start and run him till he’s gassed and then bring someone in like Menzie, Caldwell or Hep for his flexibility

Menzie as sub.

.

 

[Lore]

 

[TheFrenchCut]

His best season (2021) started with a gradual build-up through the VFL before a really good return against the Saints in Round 3.

Would love if we go this route again. I don't see the point of bringing him in straight away.

 

[VelvetSledge]

Looks primed

 

[Don Won]

Looks primed

He’s sucking it in

 

[iDon]

Must play VFL if we are serious long term for him.

 

[Cup_o_Jobe]

Not sure I buy into this whole "he needs to get super fit" stuff. For all we know Jakey could have a metabolism like Warney. A couple of durries and a lamb souva before play, and he might just kick 7 and get about 25 touches.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

He doesn’t come back well for past injuries…usually needs a few weeks. But with Weideman possibly out we’re a bit short of forwards

 

[Bipolar Bear]

VFL? Settle down.

 

[Beerfish]

VFL? Settle down.

Agree. You don't drive your Ferrari around a paddock.. or something

 

[eth-dog]

Agree. You don't drive your Ferrari around a paddock.. or something

Don't race Black Caviar in a country meet

 

[Bipolar Bear]

Losing by 2 goals and wondering if we'd have won it, while Jakey kicks 7 in the VFL.
No thanks. Get him in, actually looks good in those pics, some bicep definition.
Thicc, tight, solid.

 

[Beerfish]

If he's ready you drive him down the autobahn. If he throws a rod at 300km/h so be it. Better than getting the intake clogged with cowshit.