Essendon forward Jake Stringer is reportedly telling people that he has played his last game for the Bombers.
During the season, Stringer hit a trigger clause for 2025 worth $400,000 but it appears the club is unwilling to extend his contract beyond the end of next season or upgrade his current deal.
Seeking a longer deal and a higher salary, the 30-year-old is reportedly open to moving clubs to prolong his footy career.
Stringer is also rumoured to have clashed with coach Brad Scott.
According to AFL.com.au journalist Callum Twomey, Stringer is testing the market for a more lucrative two-year deal with Collingwood coach Craig McRae apparently eager to deliver ‘The Package’ to Olympic Park.
“He has hit a trigger for one more season at the Bombers. He has $400,000 on that deal for next year but he wants more money and a longer term of two years,” Twomey told AFL.com.au’s Gettable podcast.
“Jake Stringer is telling people he’s played his last game for the Bombers and that he’s done there.
“Collingwood has interest in him. Craig McRae in my understanding has a keenness on him coming to the club because he kicks goals.
“We saw him do it on Anzac Day when he was really good against the Pies.
“There isn’t a rush of clubs chasing Stringer, I don’t have the Swans as a part of that or being interested but I do think there’ll be a home for him.”
Stringer management had reportedly shopped him around at Sydney and Geelong but it appears negotiations with both those clubs have since been shut down.
Last week, leading journalist Damien Barrett told Nine’s Footy Classified that Collingwood was the front-runner to land Stringer.
However, Matthew Lloyd debated whether Stringer is consistent enough to keep his feet at a heavyweight club like the Pies.
“What’s funny is, the Bombers are desperate for a forward, but they obviously see enough where they go, ‘You know what, we’re probably best to move Jake Stringer on’,” he said.
“I think they get frustrated with his lack of consistency, from one week to the next, one game to the next.
Jake Stringer was displeased with the contract offered to him by Bombers coach Brad Scott. Getty
“His best is great, but his bad is bad.”
Stringer kicked 42 goals across 23 games this season.
The tally was his best since he was traded from the Bulldogs at the end of 2017 and was only one major shy of the Bombers’ leading goalkicker Kyle Langford.
The tally was also equal second-best of Stringer’s career after he booted 56 in 2015 and 42 during the Bulldogs’ premiership run.
Stringer has played 212 senior games — which included 89 for the Bulldogs — after he was drafted with the pick No.5 in the 2012 national draft.
Stringer earned an All-Australian blazer in 2015 and played a crucial role in the Bulldogs’ 2016 premiership win.
Essendon failed to make the finals again in 2024 after its season tailed off in all-to-familiar scenes for supporters.
The AFL trade period begins on Monday, October 9.
