Sport
15 October, 2024
Stringer open to big move to GWS Giants
Former Maryborough local Jake Stringer is currently weighing up a move in the AFL’s Trade Period window, contem-plating a move from Essendon to Greater Western Sydney.
It is expected a move to the club would be announced before Wednesday’s trade deadline, although Stringer is understood to be con-templating his family situation before committing a move to the Sydney-based Giants.
It is potentially the second season in a row where a district local has been dramatically traded, with Newstead’s Jack Ginnivan sensationally traded from Collingwood to Haw-thorn mere weeks after becoming a premiership player in 2023.
Should a trade go through, it is expected the Giants would part with a third-rounder, landing a pick within the mid-50s, although the Herald Sun has reported that the Bombers would contemplate paying a portion of his salary should a trade go through.
Stringer is still contracted to Essendon for the 2025 season, but had been seeking greater clarity around his future after next year, having looked for a longer-term deal to stay at the club.
When that wasn’t forthcoming, GWS have appeared to have pounced, and it is believed a two-year deal is coming his way.
Other clubs that were in the hunt during early trade discussions included Collingwood and Sydney, while Brisbane emerged as a potential match after the retirement of Stringer’s former teammate, Joe Daniher.
However, it is the Giants, who have already had a medical with Stringer, who have looked to get him to add to the club’s forward mix.
The club have been celebrated in recent years for their work in reintegrating fellow forward Jesse Hogan to a superstar of the competition after injury troubles at both Melbourne and Fremantle, leading to the strong key forward winning the Coleman Medal in 2024 after kicking 77 goals.
Stringer’s possible parachuting into the squad means the Giants would possess one of the most dangerous forward lines in the entire competition, with Hogan, Stringer, emerging young key forward Aaron Cadman, captain Toby Greene and excitement machine Brent Daniels in the mix.
It’s the second time Stringer has been a headline name in trade discussions in his time in the AFL.
In 2017, a year removed from helping the Western Bulldogs secure a 62-year, drought-breaking premiership, Stringer was sensationally traded from the club, where he would join Essendon.
Stringer has shown glimpses of his best at both clubs in his 212 AFL games.
His 89 games with the Western Bulldogs yielded 160 goals, including a personal-best haul of 56 goals in 2015, as well as the aforementioned premiership.
At Essendon, he has won the club goalkicking three times, just as he had at the Western Bulldogs, kicking 207 goals from 123 matches at the club, all while spending more time in the midfield.