Dynamite utility Jake Stringer will be given time to get fully fit and become the “strength and power” athlete that he is, says coach Brad Scott.
Stringer and his fitness have been one of the bigger talking points so far in 2023. After groin setbacks hampered the back half of his 2022 season, Stringer has been dealing with a back issue in recent weeks.
After Stringer’s last season failed to live up to the hype he generated in 2021 and his fitness struggles early this year, Kane Cornes earlier this week blasted the 28-year-old for failing to turn up in better shape.
“He's back to square one, overweight, injured and watching on,” Cornes said on SEN’s Sportsday of Stringer.
He added: “Jake Stringer is destined to be another talented player than never reached their potential. He only has himself to blame”.
Cornes also references comments from Scott himself at the club’s best and fairest last year, urging his players to return with good fitness levels.
While Stringer’s interrupted pre-season could suggest he didn’t heed his coach's warning, Scott insisted his club’s plan was to have the power forward at his explosive best.
“Jake, from my understanding anyway, played a fair bit of last year with a fair bit of groin soreness,” Scott told reporters on Friday.
“When I look at Jake Stringer he is a strength (and) power athlete. When coaching against him previously, he’s always someone you’re worried about.
“I’ve always been concerned from an opposition perspective that it’s Jake’s power and impact in games that are his real weapons.
“Our focus with Jake has been, first and foremost, to get him injury free and to get him pain-free, that’s been our number one focus during the pre-season.”
While Stringer sat out match simulation as recently as earlier this week, Scott said his charge is now pain-free.
The Bomber’s career-high level came when playing a mix of on-ball and up forward throughout the middle of the 2021 season, proving a consistent goal-kicker while also gathering around 20 touches a game.
Scott’s comments suggest he’s not fazed by his player’s condition and has a clear plan for Stringer going forward.
“Now at that stage that he is pain-free, our focus has been on building his strength and power. When you design any individual training program you have to weigh up what you prioritise, and we prioritise his strength and power, that’s the type of player we want him to be,” he continued.
“So for those who want him to be a marathon runner or an elite transitional player, I don’t think that’s where Jake’s strength is.
“His strength is something very few players in the competition have got, so that will be our focus and we’ll play him in a style that suits that.”
Stringer managed 15 appearances in 2022 and averaged 13.1 disposals and 1.7 goals a game.