Veteran forward Jake Stringer is “content” with his AFL career coming to an end if no other clubs come calling in the upcoming trade period.
Stringer departed the Giants at the end of the season, returning home to Victoria for family reasons.
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The 32-year-old has one of the best years of his career in 2026, kicking 48 goals to finish 11th in the Coleman Medal race.
He had hoped to continue his career at a Victorian club, but there hasn’t been much interest to this stage.
And while he initially said he had “quite a few more years left”, Stringer has now said he will be “fine” if that doesn’t happen.
7NEWS reporter Tom Morris provided an update on the situation on Wednesday.
“I called Jake Stringer last night and we had a good chat, and he made it very clear to me, and he didn’t mind me saying this on air because I think it just reframes the discussion a little bit, that if he doesn’t get picked up by another club, he’s fine,” Morris said on AFL Trade Radio.
“He’s happy to do some coaching, hopefully start his academy, help out young kids, do other things, spend time with the family.
“I think he understands that being in AFL football is not the be-all and end-all now. You know, he’s been doing it for a long time.
“No doubt if a club came to him, he would look at it, but he’s very happy pursuing other things in 2027, if that’s the case.”
Stringer travelled overseas to see his brother in the off-season, which helped him gain a bit of perspective as well.
“He went to visit his brother and I think they’ve got three or four kids at least in Ireland, and I think just a bit of perspective in the off-season,” Morris said.
“I think his views evolve. He’s probably got his head around the fact that there might not be a club that wants him, and he’s content with what he’s achieved in his career.
“So if it is the end, he’s OK with that.”
Stringer was originally drafted to the Bulldogs with pick No.5 in the 2012 draft and played 89 games in five years at the Kennel, including the 2016 premiership, before moving to Essendon ahead of the 2018 season.
The 2015 All-Australian had an up and down stint at the Bombers, but ultimately still won the club’s goalkicking award three times before being essentially put on the scrapheap at the end of 2024.
That’s when the Giants took a punt on him and rediscovered some of his best form across the past two seasons.
AFL great Tom Mitchell said Stringer looms as a potential recruit through the pre-season supplemental selection period, which will give clubs the opportunity to see the veteran train before committing.
“I think for any club that does take a punt on Jake Stringer, he seems like the type of player that you might want him as a train-on and train until February and prove yourself and show your fitness and come in committed, and then potentially a club (could take him),” Mitchell told The Agenda Setters on Monday night.
“But I wouldn’t have one (a club) in mind at the moment.”
