I have never understood the hype around Western Bulldogs forward Jake Stringer. When leading into this season the Herald-Sun rated him the 10th best player in the AFL I was flabbergasted.
That newspaper’s chief football writer Mark Robinson ranked the enigmatic Stringer as a better player than the likes of Joel Selwood, Robbie Gray, Dan Hannebery, Jarryd Roughead, Josh P Kennedy and Dustin Martin.
His fellow players did not think nearly as highly of Stringer – he was 38th in the AFL’s player poll on the top 50 footballers.
This assessment made more sense to me. There is no doubt that Stringer, at his peak, is an extraordinary footballer capable of feats matched by few other players in the land. But to be a truly elite player, worthy of being ranked ahead of champions like Selwood, you can’t just flash in and out of games, or be dominant one week and subdued the next.
Stringer did not have the consistency to earn the superstar billing he was afforded at the start of this season. His lustre has dullened significantly across this season to the point where he was dumped just before the finals.
Stringer’s attitude was appalling at times in the games before he was dropped. Repeatedly he made half-hearted efforts and at times he looked as if he just wasn’t interested in being out on the ground.
This did not go unnoticed by Luke Beveridge. The Bulldogs coach had reportedly given Stringer a spray mid-season over similarly lacklustre displays and made the huge move of dropping him just before the finals.
Stringer was always going to be recalled in September. The Bulldogs are an admirably hard-working team but they do lack forward firepower compared to the likes of fellow finalists Adelaide, Sydney, GWS and West Coast.
The Bulldogs couldn’t afford to play finals without Stringer who, at the very worst, would draw the best opposition defender, and at the very best could lead them to victory off his own boot.
He has been a mixed bag since returning to the team. As his side rolled over West Coast in Perth Stringer barely was noticed, collecting just ten touches and a solitary goal. He was vastly improved the next week against Hawthorn, slotting two goals in the third quarter as the Bulldogs overran the back-to-back-to-back premiers.
Then he returned to relative anonymity in the preliminary final win over the Giants. Stringer went goal-less, although he did show impressive intensity in his defensive efforts. But what the Bulldogs really need from him this week is offence, not defence.
If he fails to hit the scoreboard again it is hard to see the underdogs upsetting Sydney. When the Bulldogs knocked off Sydney at the SCG in Round 13, Stringer bobbed up to kick three goals, which was crucial in the low scoring match.
This weekend’s grand final shapes as another low-scoring encounter. The Bulldogs don’t need Stringer to be best on ground. They don’t need him to play like the 10th best player in the AFL.
What they need is for him to stay in the game for as long as possible, to work up and back, up and back, even if things aren’t panning out for him.
If he does that grunt work his immense talent should sort out the rest. If he doesn’t, the underdogs from the West will lack balance up forward.
Don Freo
Guest
If it wasn't for that last kick at the end of the game last week, Stringer may have been dropped. I don't think they need him. I'm going Tommy Boyd for Norm Smith. He'll earn his millions in one game today. (At least...I hope he does.)
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Last time I looked, Stringer was only 22 and big forwards do not really fully mature till they are 25. He is still very green in the game and has had to take on more responsibility than he is ready for. When Boyn matures and with the return on Crameri he will start to gain consistency because of the shielding/support he gets I think it is better to make comment on him them rather than be governed by the hype attached to him in the media now
Mark
Guest
Rampe will give him a bath.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Hold fast Pumping Dougie. You just never know. Carn the mighty Bulldogs!!
rusty
Roar Rookie
Best of luck. Hope they get up.
Republican
Guest
I reckon the Swans will do what they do best, shut the Dogs running game down, flood and counter attack effectively. This will ensure another scrappy affair sadly and a Sydney win. But I hope in hope, that I am proved wrong. Go the Scray.
Pete
Guest
Ablett was consistently kicking 60 to 90 goals a year from 1985 onwards as a half forward flanker when he was only 23 and finishing in Geelongs top 3 in the best and fairest. A very good player and well on the way to greatness well before the age of 30.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Not nervous, just very excited .. enjoying the ride. Swans are favourites, no doubt. Like most people, if we can hang in there till quarter time, then I think we're a big chance. But that's a big IF.
tom m
Guest
How are the nerves PD? Think your young dogs can get it done?
Seano
Guest
Except Ablett Snr didn't do it week in and week out at the same age as stringer, he was just as flakey and in an out of games. He had to be directed by his captain where tistabd and what to do all the time. We are remembering the Full Firward Ablett Snr who was perfect but that didn't start until he was 30. Ablett Snr is the best player I have ever seen but he wasn't at 23.
mdso
Guest
I think Stringer is a better player with Stewart Crameri in the team to draw away some of the attention. And he will be great again. He does need to learn about consistency and to control himself emotionally to get the best out of his game.
dave
Guest
Haven't watched a lot of the dogs over the last 2 years but have heard a lot about Stringer and their exciting young players. Now after watching the dogs over the finals have loved watching their exciting young team. Don't know what I missed in the last 2 years but If on the MCG this Stringer guy can play as well as he's been talked up .. Doggies in with a big chance.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Good article Rohan. I agree all Stringer has to do is work hard and contribute on Saturday. That mindset will ensure he is a concern for the opposition. Whilst we don't necessarily need him to kick goals for us to win (which we've proven in this finals series), obviously it will help if he does. It's not Stringer's fault he's rated so highly by others. He's not in the top 10 players in the league, but he is in the 10 most exciting players in the league. He's capable of anything and frequently does it. This year the frequency has dimmed, but that's as much to do with injuries the Bulldogs have carried across the year, which has not only put a big burden on Stringer as our only key forward for much of the season, but also hampered the quick, accurate transition into our forward line. The return of JJ into our backline and Suckling when he was playing, made a big difference to our forwards. Bob Murphy next year will help even more. In the few weeks before Stringer was dropped, he was carrying a shoulder injury and shouldn't have been playing - you could see he was hesitant to put himself into a contest. Next year he will have Crameri sharing some of the load and Tom Boyd / Zaine Cordy will be another year into their development.
James Jenkin
Roar Rookie
When Stringer is on, he reminds me of G. Ablett Snr. hard to tackle, explosive off the mark, uncanny goal sense, same hair cut! however Gary Snr earned his stripes doing this week in and week out over a number of years, so Jake wouldn't rate in the same category as Ablett at the moment. He probably has the ability to win the match for the Bulldogs on Saturday, even with a destructive 15 minutes of football. He will be well marked by the Swans, more than likely they will have three or four tackling him as he pushes through packs, he wont be allowed the same freedoms he is used to. Because he is so young, and already suffers with the burden, I think he will end up being traded in two or three years time, the same as Ablett was from Hawthorn. I think you will see the best of Jake Stringer at his second club...only an opinion
gyfox
Guest
Thanks for that, Ronan. Stringer just seemed to pop up in the media from nowhere. Has been exciting on occasions I have seen him - so hope he produces the goods tomorrow.
me too
Guest
Just about the most overrated player in the comp. Attitude and application missing in too many games. Needs a big game to repay the faith.
T-Bone
Guest
Fair call Rohan. I love Stringer, but he needs to be consistent. He's had too many lows this year, and we can't afford another one this saturday. If he fires, though, we have someone who is as dynamic as Franklin. Fingers crossed he has the rub of the green tomorrow.