Traded #25: Jake Stringer - 📦 Traded to GWS for Pick #53 - 16/10

[Lore]

Contract Status: Out of contract 2024
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 19, Harlequin

 

[The Donners]

Name them.

Mason Wood
Nathan Broad
Luke Breust

Someone can find another 4.

Either way it doesn’t happen all that much.

 

[Rick Ross]

Moreso that it's a stupid argument.

You don't just subtract 42 goals.

A number of the goals he kicked someone else would then have the opportunity to kick, he was the single most targeted EFC i50 last season. It's the inverse of how Harry McKay has kicked less goals since Charlie Curnow has come back, because he's not getting as many scoring opportunities.

Not saying we'd be able to replace all the goals, especially the freakish ones he's able to kick that few others can, but we're not simply 42 goals worse without him.

100% agree.
Apart from the “stupid argument” bit where you 100% made up the subtract 42 goals thing… then 100% redeemed yourself by rebutted your own made up reference.

 

[ghostdog]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/wreck-it-ralph-dons-playing-highstakes-game-with-stringer-and-the-bargain-bin-forwards-up-for-grabs/news-story/f80bef6d386001c8cd601a409b967c54

Wreck It Ralph: Dons playing high-stakes game with Stringer and the bargain bin forwards up for grabs​

Jake Stringer is desperate to stay at Essendon, but how much are the Bombers willing to test the loyalty of a rare forward actually delivering for them? JON RALPH writes, it’s a dangerous game.



Essendon fans already shattered about their late-season fall from grace had to endure more cruel punishment as the All-Australian debate raged.
Massimo D’Ambrosio, the man who had fled for Hawthorn after being offered only a one-year Essendon deal, was now considered a worthy All-Australian wingman.

He would eventually miss out to midfielder Nick Daicos but it rubbed salt into the wound given his polished ball use and run was exactly what the Dons lacked as they crashed from contention.

As D’Ambrosio said after being offered a single season at Essendon and leaving for a longer deal: “At this time in my career I just needed a bit more security”.

It is an episode worth noting as the Dons try to play hard ball on Jake Stringer.
There are many things Stringer isn’t.

He isn’t very consistent, he isn’t always there in a crisis, he isn’t a ball of muscle like Scott Pendlebury or Josh Weddle or Isaac Heeney.

Stringer had a great year for the Bombers. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

But he is especially loyal, he is desperate to stay at Essendon.
And this year like very few other players he kicked goals when they were needed.
Playing in an Essendon forward line fully of highly paid stars who singularly failed to do that when counted upon this year.
As the Herald Sun reported this week,

He can accept a deal of about $400,000, renegotiate, or go and request a trade.
Essendon should be careful what they wish for as they try to strike a balance between incentivising Stringer’s future performance and limiting their exposure if he signs a two-year deal then fails to deliver.
Let’s be as blunt as we can be about this.

Stringer delivered exceptional value for Essendon this year given his goal output and salary of much less than $800,000 a season.
His tally of 42.25 was the 13th best haul in the comp.

It was the same as Tyson Stengle, who many Cats fans screamed should be in the All-Australian team.
It was one more than Toby Greene, paid over a million bucks a year and former All-Australian captain.
It was six more than Will Hayward, who rivals were prepared to offer six years at $800,000 before he eventually signed a five-year deal.

It was double the output of the disappointing Jade Gresham (22 games, 19 goals), who signed a three-year deal worth $700,000 a season.

The Don kicked the 13th most goals in the league this season. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

It was triple the tally of Gryan Myers and Ben Ainsworth, two half forwards of some renown.
And it was double the tally of Todd Marshall and Luke Jackson, two young stars who are also on exorbitant contracts.
In short, for all of his advertised flaws it was enough to get him a two-year deal somewhere next year and at the very least a pay rise at Essendon.

At 30, is he at the age when many players have accepted one-year contracts from then on to finish their careers?
Yes, but those players do so with very little leverage.
Mason Wood just signed a three-year deal and turns 31 in a few days.
Nathan Broad just got offered three years as a 31-year-old.

So Essendon is playing a dangerous game if it believes Stringer will never leave this club.
Culture is a funny thing.
Stringer didn’t jump ship at the Western Bulldogs, he was pushed out through his own mishaps and controversies and found a new home at the Dons.

He might be a loveable rogue, but he has often played hurt to his own detriment – and reputation.
He has often not turned up to pre-season in elite shape, or lost condition through the season.

But from the start of this year as he explored his own faith in a journey of discovery, he pledged his future to the Dons.
“Do I want to play anywhere else? Absolutely not. My home is Essendon, absolutely,” he said in February.

The man himself is not keen on moving. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

So the two parties will haggle, while clubs looking for goalkickers will kick his tyres and wonder if they might secure him for a late pick and a reasonable but not ridiculous salary.

Here is the question Brad Scott needs to ask.
What is the Essendon forward line like next year without him?
In a year where the blowtorch will be focused on Scott’s backside in a no-excuse season where he simply must play finals.
In a 2025 season where full back Ben McKay will again be paid up to $1.4 million (in a front-ended deal) surely it’s worth paying Stringer a reasonable salary – call it $750,000 – with at the very least a very attainable games-based clause for a second season.

Or just give him a two-year deal as a show of faith in Stringer so he doesn’t have to play hurt to try to hit that trigger.
His management team wasn’t able to secure Christian Petracca an escape from Melbourne but getting Stringer two years for a later pick surely would be a walk in the park elsewhere.
Right now Essendon’s message is that Essendon doesn’t trust Stringer.

What will the Bombers offer? Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

To turn up in good nick in November, to deliver on game day, to keep fit through the season.
Without him Essendon has the dependable Kyle Langford (43 goals this year), then VFL-bound Peter Wright, the flighty Gresham, the wingman-half forward Harrison Jones (18 goals in 21 games), and 10 gamer Nate Caddy.

So Essendon is involved in a high-stakes game of brinkmanship that at worst threatens to anger Stringer’s teammates over the club’s lack of commitment to a key member of their team.

Get it right and they secure a highly motivated team player who is in the right frame of mind to reprise this season’s excellent goal tally.
Get it wrong and they lose a quality player for little – and alienate their own fan base and playing group.

Well written article, Rick Ross. Kudos.

 

[Rick Ross]

Well written article, Rick Ross. Kudos.

No kudos to you ghostdog for noticing.

 

[faible]

100% agree.
Apart from the “stupid argument” bit where you 100% made up the subtract 42 goals thing… then 100% redeemed yourself by rebutted your own made up reference.

You weren’t arguing that, but I’ve seen a number of posters arguing as though you just subtract 42 goals from the team.

 

[Corleone]

Interest from Sydney is pure smoke.

Jake has four kids, two to his ex, I cannot see him choosing to move interstate and missing out on seeing them as often as he does for an extra year.

Considering that I would say his options are actually quite limited.
Collingwood? but they've got a lot of over 30's already on the list and he's not something they are missing.
carlton? Maybe
Hawthorn, not their age profile and they already have Bruest and Gunston as forward vets
Geelong? Same as Collingwood
Melbourne? They've got enough on their plate as it is
North? Probably his best bet of multiple years at decent money.
Richmond? Maybe
Saints? Don't think so

He's hit the clause for the additional year (2025) he wants another on top of that and it's not in the best interest of the club to give it to him.

My bet at this point would be he stays with us for next season and the season after that and onwards on rolling one year deals.

 

[Kong]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/wreck-it-ralph-dons-playing-highstakes-game-with-stringer-and-the-bargain-bin-forwards-up-for-grabs/news-story/f80bef6d386001c8cd601a409b967c54

But he is especially loyal

Umm...

 

[fairbump_playon]

Interest from Sydney is pure smoke.

Jake has four kids, two to his ex, I cannot see him choosing to move interstate and missing out on seeing them as often as he does for an extra year.

Considering that I would say his options are actually quite limited.
Collingwood? but they've got a lot of over 30's already on the list and he's not something they are missing.
carlton? Maybe
Hawthorn, not their age profile and they already have Bruest and Gunston as forward vets
Geelong? Same as Collingwood
Melbourne? They've got enough on their plate as it is
North? Probably his best bet of multiple years at decent money.
Richmond? Maybe
Saints? Don't think so

He's hit the clause for the additional year (2025) he wants another on top of that and it's not in the best interest of the club to give it to him.

My bet at this point would be he stays with us for next season and the season after that and onwards on rolling one year deals.

Would be quite good to see him mess up North's progress on a 4 year contract

They need someone to replace the 42 goals they scored as a team this season.

 

[MiguelM]

Interest from Sydney is pure smoke.

Jake has four kids, two to his ex, I cannot see him choosing to move interstate and missing out on seeing them as often as he does for an extra year.

Considering that I would say his options are actually quite limited.
Collingwood? but they've got a lot of over 30's already on the list and he's not something they are missing.
carlton? Maybe
Hawthorn, not their age profile and they already have Bruest and Gunston as forward vets
Geelong? Same as Collingwood
Melbourne? They've got enough on their plate as it is
North? Probably his best bet of multiple years at decent money.
Richmond? Maybe
Saints? Don't think so

He's hit the clause for the additional year (2025) he wants another on top of that and it's not in the best interest of the club to give it to him.

My bet at this point would be he stays with us for next season and the season after that and onwards on rolling one year deals.

I would count the Tigers out. They are rebuilding from the ground up.

 

[Howard Moon]

So, what triggers would you put for an auto second ? Probably the best play here

 

[fairbump_playon]

So, what triggers would you put for an auto second ? Probably the best play here

Playing + 15 games
Averaging + 5 tackles a game

 

[Howard Moon]

Playing + 15 games
Averaging + 5 tackles a game

Definately not goals cause it creates selfish... Give me tackles and goal assists

 

[fairbump_playon]

Definately not goals cause it creates selfish... Give me tackles and goal assists

Averaging 2+ handballs to Langford in the square?

 

[ant555]

We need to change the culture and holding onto unprofessional players will not change culture.

Ralph is an Essendon supporter that gets a chub watching Stringer in an overall ho hum team.

Ralph is a Richmond supporter.

 

[P Money]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/wreck-it-ralph-dons-playing-highstakes-game-with-stringer-and-the-bargain-bin-forwards-up-for-grabs/news-story/f80bef6d386001c8cd601a409b967c54

Wreck It Ralph: Dons playing high-stakes game with Stringer and the bargain bin forwards up for grabs​

Jake Stringer is desperate to stay at Essendon, but how much are the Bombers willing to test the loyalty of a rare forward actually delivering for them? JON RALPH writes, it’s a dangerous game.



Essendon fans already shattered about their late-season fall from grace had to endure more cruel punishment as the All-Australian debate raged.
Massimo D’Ambrosio, the man who had fled for Hawthorn after being offered only a one-year Essendon deal, was now considered a worthy All-Australian wingman.

He would eventually miss out to midfielder Nick Daicos but it rubbed salt into the wound given his polished ball use and run was exactly what the Dons lacked as they crashed from contention.

As D’Ambrosio said after being offered a single season at Essendon and leaving for a longer deal: “At this time in my career I just needed a bit more security”.

It is an episode worth noting as the Dons try to play hard ball on Jake Stringer.
There are many things Stringer isn’t.

He isn’t very consistent, he isn’t always there in a crisis, he isn’t a ball of muscle like Scott Pendlebury or Josh Weddle or Isaac Heeney.

Stringer had a great year for the Bombers. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

But he is especially loyal, he is desperate to stay at Essendon.
And this year like very few other players he kicked goals when they were needed.
Playing in an Essendon forward line fully of highly paid stars who singularly failed to do that when counted upon this year.
As the Herald Sun reported this week,

He can accept a deal of about $400,000, renegotiate, or go and request a trade.
Essendon should be careful what they wish for as they try to strike a balance between incentivising Stringer’s future performance and limiting their exposure if he signs a two-year deal then fails to deliver.
Let’s be as blunt as we can be about this.

Stringer delivered exceptional value for Essendon this year given his goal output and salary of much less than $800,000 a season.
His tally of 42.25 was the 13th best haul in the comp.

It was the same as Tyson Stengle, who many Cats fans screamed should be in the All-Australian team.
It was one more than Toby Greene, paid over a million bucks a year and former All-Australian captain.
It was six more than Will Hayward, who rivals were prepared to offer six years at $800,000 before he eventually signed a five-year deal.

It was double the output of the disappointing Jade Gresham (22 games, 19 goals), who signed a three-year deal worth $700,000 a season.

The Don kicked the 13th most goals in the league this season. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

It was triple the tally of Gryan Myers and Ben Ainsworth, two half forwards of some renown.
And it was double the tally of Todd Marshall and Luke Jackson, two young stars who are also on exorbitant contracts.
In short, for all of his advertised flaws it was enough to get him a two-year deal somewhere next year and at the very least a pay rise at Essendon.

At 30, is he at the age when many players have accepted one-year contracts from then on to finish their careers?
Yes, but those players do so with very little leverage.
Mason Wood just signed a three-year deal and turns 31 in a few days.
Nathan Broad just got offered three years as a 31-year-old.

So Essendon is playing a dangerous game if it believes Stringer will never leave this club.
Culture is a funny thing.
Stringer didn’t jump ship at the Western Bulldogs, he was pushed out through his own mishaps and controversies and found a new home at the Dons.

He might be a loveable rogue, but he has often played hurt to his own detriment – and reputation.
He has often not turned up to pre-season in elite shape, or lost condition through the season.

But from the start of this year as he explored his own faith in a journey of discovery, he pledged his future to the Dons.
“Do I want to play anywhere else? Absolutely not. My home is Essendon, absolutely,” he said in February.

The man himself is not keen on moving. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

So the two parties will haggle, while clubs looking for goalkickers will kick his tyres and wonder if they might secure him for a late pick and a reasonable but not ridiculous salary.

Here is the question Brad Scott needs to ask.
What is the Essendon forward line like next year without him?
In a year where the blowtorch will be focused on Scott’s backside in a no-excuse season where he simply must play finals.
In a 2025 season where full back Ben McKay will again be paid up to $1.4 million (in a front-ended deal) surely it’s worth paying Stringer a reasonable salary – call it $750,000 – with at the very least a very attainable games-based clause for a second season.

Or just give him a two-year deal as a show of faith in Stringer so he doesn’t have to play hurt to try to hit that trigger.
His management team wasn’t able to secure Christian Petracca an escape from Melbourne but getting Stringer two years for a later pick surely would be a walk in the park elsewhere.
Right now Essendon’s message is that Essendon doesn’t trust Stringer.

What will the Bombers offer? Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

To turn up in good nick in November, to deliver on game day, to keep fit through the season.
Without him Essendon has the dependable Kyle Langford (43 goals this year), then VFL-bound Peter Wright, the flighty Gresham, the wingman-half forward Harrison Jones (18 goals in 21 games), and 10 gamer Nate Caddy.

So Essendon is involved in a high-stakes game of brinkmanship that at worst threatens to anger Stringer’s teammates over the club’s lack of commitment to a key member of their team.

Get it right and they secure a highly motivated team player who is in the right frame of mind to reprise this season’s excellent goal tally.
Get it wrong and they lose a quality player for little – and alienate their own fan base and playing group.

It's ok though because we have 'a forward line full of highly paid stars'. WTF?

 

[The Donners]

Ralph is a Richmond supporter.

So he’s a turncoat?

 

[brutus76]

This year is the first time he's played every game for us

avg 17 games a season for us

400k is more than reasonable IMO

 

[Rick Ross]

Definately not goals cause it creates selfish... Give me tackles and goal assists

I’d go the other way… games, goals plus a goal conversion min requirement hurdle. Pay bonuses on goal of round or season. Add in a skin folds minimum Standard. A prohibition on bad tattoos clause. Require him to discretely pull back on his friendship with Merret. Wrap it up with a team voted assessment on acceptable body language displayed after poor delivery into him.

Tackles too…

 

[Howard Moon]

I’d go the other way… games, goals plus a goal conversion min requirement hurdle. Pay bonuses on goal of round or season. Add in a skin folds minimum Standard. A prohibition on bad tattoos clause. Require him to discretely pull back on his friendship with Merret. Wrap it up with a team voted assessment on acceptable body language displayed after poor delivery into him.

Tackles too…

How about he gets a battle pass every 6 months and 3 emotes if he plays gud

 

[astrowizzle]

Don't think we can test folds sanymore

 

[HirdsTheWord]

i find this easy.

offer him a renewed deal for 2025 that triggers another year based on incentives.

put the onus of the second year squarely on his shoulders. He delivers, he gets it.

 

[Foxx]

Might work out OK, or make us look stupid. Depends if someone like Cox slots in.

 

[Duckworth]

i find this easy.

offer him a renewed deal for 2025 that triggers another year based on incentives.

put the onus of the second year squarely on his shoulders. He delivers, he gets it.

I put forward the double or nothing deal for 2025. $800k if he meets incentives. $0 if not.

 

[Call Me Cake]

put the onus of the second year squarely on his shoulders. He delivers, he gets it.

Except the entire reason he wants more than 1 is so that it isn't on his shoulders.

He knows this would theoretically be his last multi-ish year deal which means he could freeball his way to retirement.

 

[quotemokc]

Would happily give him a larger contract if its on a 1 year deal.