Essendon gun Jake Stringer says he’s had his best pre-season to date, putting it down to a greater focus on his mental health during the break as he looks to bounce back from an up and down 2023.
Stringer opened up on his struggles and his off-season to date in a wide-ranging interview with Channel 7 presenter and Bombers legend Tim Watson, with the 29-year old optimistic about the year ahead and what the club can achieve.
Also a contract season for Stringer, he said he was feeling “really good” after overcoming a foot issue last year as he prepares to play in pre-season games.
Watch AFL match simulations and pre-season games this February exclusively live on Fox Footy, via Foxtel and Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >
‘Proud’ SPP elevated to leadership group | 00:44
“I had surgery in September and then pretty much have just built up (my fitness) all the way through (the pre-season),” Stringer told Channel 7.
“I knew up until Christmas it was going to be a slow build and then from Christmas I’ve pretty much trained all the way through and I’m in a really good position now where I’ve been back fully training for five or six weeks.
“If everything goes well, I’ll be playing in the practice matches, which (would be) for like the first time in five years.”
Stringer noted an emphasis on his mental health has in turn helped his body, declaring he’s felt as good as he has over any summer across his 11-year career.
“It’s probably the best mentally I’ve been and that’s probably helping physically as well. So I’d say in that sense, it probably is the best pre-season I’ve had so far,” Stringer said.
“When I had my foot surgery I just really tried to figure out things in my life that I really needed to figure out, and there’s things that I will continue to work on all the way through.”
He continued: “It’s a whole range of things, it’s not one certain thing. It’s about making sure you’ve got a healthy mind and healthy body.
“I’ve had troubles throughout my whole career. There’s things that I’m sure at a later date I’ll speak about it but at the minute I’m just in that building block process.
“It got to a stage where I had to do something, and I went and did that in the off-season. I’m finding myself now in a very good position to be able to tackle a full AFL season.”
At his best, the explosive 183-gamer is one of the league’s top-line stars, but he’s at times struggled with consistency and injuries.
It’s made the 2016 premiership Bulldog’s career as fascinating — and polarising — as any.
A one-time All-Australian and six-time leading goalkicker, Stringer at the end of 2017 crossed from the Bulldogs to Essendon, where he’s produced some of his best footy despite building his reputation at Whitten Oval.
He says his best is still to come though.
“I would say there’s still another level for me to go in my footballing journey and I’m starting to feel the benefits of going away and working on myself now,” Stringer said.
“I’m getting the benefits now coming into these pre-season games and training.”
Asked what he would put those benefits down to, Stringer said: “It was everything, it’s a whole lifestyle, everything.
“Not saying my lifestyle was extravagant (but) I didn’t know how to deal with things so I’ve just gone away and worked at those (issues).
“It’s something that I take day by day (to) become a better person, a better father, a better teammate, and just all around better human, really.”
Mills shoulders new role despite injury | 02:36
Stringer said Bombers coach Brad Scott, who guided the club to an improved 11-win season in his first at the helm last year, has been “amazing” for him, particularly off the field.
“Not dissing any other coach, every coach I’ve had has been amazing. But he’s really been someone away from football I’ve sort of been able to lean on and help get guidance on where I need to go and what to do,” Stringer said.
“Just scaling everything back for me, he’s been an amazing support for me.”
Stringer added with a laugh: “I’m still scared of him, don’t worry about that! But his support is unwavering in that regard.”
Essendon, which hasn’t won a final since 2004, will now look to build off a promising 2023 campaign, having been challenged by Scott to go to another level as it strives for the ultimate success.
Stringer observed that there’s been clear improvement from where the Bombers were 12 months ago, attributing it to general maturation and Scott’s guidance.
“The growth in this group from this time last year to now, we couldn’t be further in front of where we were. I’m thinking we’ll improve a fair bit this year,” he said.
“I think it’s just overall maturity in the group. Brad challenged us going into the off-season.
“It wasn’t really a challenge, it was like: ‘Where are we at as a playing group? We’re sitting middle of the table every year, how do we want to become a better team? We’re kidding ourselves if we think we can do the normal, then rock up pre-season and somehow be better than all these teams.’
“It was really on the playing group to drive that.”
Out of contract at the end of this season, it looms as an important season for Stringer — both for his own career and in helping the Bombers continue their rise.
Asked if he felt extra pressure given his contract status, Stringer responded with a laugh: “Nah, there’s a lot of talk about it.
“I’m literally in a state of day by day, not a state of: ‘Oh my god, I need to kick 50 goals this year and get another contract’.
“I know what I can do, but I just need to take my processes that today is today, tomorrow will bring whatever tomorrow will bring.
“If (the club) came to me and said we want to sign you, I’d probably say I’d sign.
“Nah, absolutely no pressure. Me and Brad have been very clear on this, too, and where the group is at. I’m getting to the stage where I’m not 20 anymore.
“But do I want to play anywhere else? Absolutely not. Is my home Essendon? Absolutely.”
Discussion about this post