Essendon envisage new recruit Jake Stringer to spend significant periods of the game in midfield according to strength and conditioning coach Justin Crow.
The former Bulldog was traded to the Bombers in the 2017 NAB AFL Trade Period, and despite the 23-year-old spending the majority of his time at his former side up forward, Crow says further time in the middle of the ground is the long-term plan for the 89-gamer at Essendon.
“You can see he has a real nous in and around the contested parts of the game,” he told SEN Mornings.
“I think he was playing one short stint in midfield per quarter at the Bulldogs. Our ambition is that he could play two to three stints there with us.
“We’ll go on a journey with Jake to improve his fitness up to that point.”
Crow says the club have been impressed with Stringer’s attitude towards his first pre-season at his new home.
Stringer has struggled for consistent form since his breakout 2015 season, which saw him earn a spot on the All-Australian team, with off-field dramas also keeping the 2016 premiership player in the headlines over the past 12 months.
Essendon kick off their 2018 campaign against Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Friday March 23.
Listen to Justin Crow chat with Michael Christian on SEN Mornings in the player below: