‘Tough to fight his way in’: Great’s brutal Stringer call in fiery debate as bargain exit looms

Jake Stringer is keen to play for GWS in 2025 as the Giants move towards their decision on the goalkicking forward.

But a great has questioned how he’d fit into Adam Kingley’s forward mix and even if he’d make GWS’ best 23 altogether.

After interest from Sydney and Collingwood, a Stringer-to-Giants switch has picked up momentum in recent days, with the Bomber said to be interested in making the move.

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And so Essendon and the Giants are set to initiate talks on a Stringer trade in exchange for a late pick, GWS’ 53 or 56. The Bombers have also been linked to Connor Stone.

“He’s really keen to get to GWS if he can. He can see himself potentially playing in a second premiership — it was a long while ago, 2016,” the Herald Sun’s Glenn McFarlane said on Fox Footy’s Trading Day.

“He’s met with Adam Kingsley, the Giants have done their due diligence, now it’s just a matter of potentially getting that trade sorted. It wouldn’t be for much, in a sense. The Giants see him as a bit of a game-changer in that forward line, he did kick 40 goals this year.

“So you’re looking at a late pick, a 53 or a 56.”

Stringer has one year remaining on his contract worth around $400,000, but has been seeking a longer deal elsewhere, with Essendon reportedly happy to facilitate a move to allow that.

He’s coming off a 42-goal season for the Bombers — the second-most at the club and his best return since crossing from the Western Bulldogs at the end of 2017.

Asked whether trading a late pick was good value for the Giants, Bulldogs great Brad Johnson warned: “That’s value, but I think he still sits fourth in the pecking order for Adam Kingsley.

“You’ve got (Jesse) Hogan and (Aaron) Cadman who’ll play guaranteed. You’ve got (Jake) Ricciardi who played in the twos late and couldn’t fight his way back into that senior team.

“I know (Isaac) Cumming is leaving, so you’ve got Stringer who’s a similar size I suppose, but with the shape of their forward line collectively they like Hogan and Cadman, (Toby) Greene’s only 182cm, then you’ve got (Toby) Bedford 178cm and (Brent) Daniels 172cm, so they like to get them up the field. It’s just how he fits within that structure.”

The Giants currently hold picks 15, 16, 21, 37, 53, 56 and 74 and are expected to pursue a future second-round pick for Crows-bound James Peatling.

Herald Sun journalist Scott Gullan declared: “It’s a change of scenery, if he gets his body right … a fit and firing Jake Stringer, we saw it for a few weeks (at Essendon)…”

But Johnson fired back: “He’s 30. Jake Stringer needs to sell himself to GWS now on how he’ll turn things around, because everyone’s got a body of work on Jake Stringer. He can play.”

Gullan replied: “He’s a good clearance player. So why wouldn’t you do it for pick 50, 60-odd? Who cares?”

Johnson said: “Well you might, but he has to sell himself and get himself into that group to earn the respect instantly, especially from the coaches who are gonna select him.

“And they’re the ones who have to push him — is he in front of Ricciardi, Hogan? I disagree (that he is). No way internally is he in front of those guys.”

Gullan added: “He can prove it, come there over the summer, new attitude, he’s a match-winner on his day.”

But Johnson wasn’t convinced, saying: “I’m not doubting that but he still has to jump three guys to get into the senior team … he’s not necessarily (in the best 22).

“He could be there as the insurance because this is a team that was 44 points up in one final, and 28 up in another. They’ve got the nucleus to win the Grand Final already.

“He’s perfect if Cadman gets injured, and Stringer comes in and fills that role, or Hogan gets injured, he can come in and do that. He’s not gonna replace Daniels, Bedford or Greene in their role specifically, so I can’t see them creating something different for him.”

Gullan responded: “Their fast ball movement suits him, one-on-one, I wouldn’t want to play on a fit Jake Stringer!”

But Johnson said: “He’s an excellent player but what I’m saying is what he’s walking into potentially is a group that’s already challenging for a premiership. It’s tough to fight his way in. He’s got to do everything right.”