Jake Stringer in telling revelation about family amid struggles at Essendon
The AFL veteran has promised Bombers fans they'll see the best version of him in 2024.
Former AFL premiership winner Jake Stringer has promised Essendon fans they will see the best version of him in 2024 after opening up about his recent struggles. Stringer had surgery in September after undergoing a number of foot problems that disrupted his 2023 campaign, as the Bombers went from fifth on the ladder to crash out of finals contention in a disastrous end to their season.
Stringer dealt with plantar fasciitis across the back half of the season and was sidelined between rounds 20 and 22. He also experienced foot and soft tissue issues earlier in the year and has been open about his struggles with mental health. However, the 183-game AFL star says his quest to become a better father and person has him primed for a big 2024.
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The former Bulldogs premiership star says since having surgery he's been working hard to get back to full fitness ahead of the new season. And in a candid chat with Channel 7 presenter and Bombers legend Tim Watson, Stringer says he is in a much better space mentally as he hopes to play practice matches for the first time in years.
Jake Stringer eyeing first pre-season practice games in years
“I had surgery in September and then pretty much have just built up (my fitness) all the way through (the pre-season),” Stringer told Channel 7. “I knew up until Christmas it was going to be a slow build and then from Christmas I’ve pretty much trained all the way through and I’m in a really good position now where I’ve been back fully training for five or six weeks. If everything goes well, I’ll be playing in the practice matches, which (would be) for like the first time in five years.”
Stringer has responded after Brad Scott challenged his players to use last year's disappointment to drive them in 2024 and the 29-year-old reckons he's in the best pre-season shape he's ever been. “It’s probably the best mentally I’ve been and that’s probably helping physically as well. So I’d say in that sense, it probably is the best pre-season I’ve had so far,” Stringer added. “When I had my foot surgery I just really tried to figure out things in my life that I really needed to figure out, and there’s things that I will continue to work on all the way through.
“It’s a whole range of things, it’s not one certain thing. It’s about making sure you’ve got a healthy mind and healthy body. I’ve had troubles throughout my whole career. There’s things that I’m sure at a later date I’ll speak about it but at the minute I’m just in that building block process... I’m finding myself now in a very good position to be able to tackle a full AFL season.”
Jake Stringer hails 'amazing support' from coach Brad Scott
Stringer has credited his coach with having a massive influence on his new mindset. Scott's first season as head coach at Essendon saw the Bombers improve on their previous season by scoring 11 wins and Stringer says the veteran mentor has been "amazing" for both the club and him personally.
“Not dissing any other coach, every coach I’ve had has been amazing. But he’s really been someone away from football I’ve sort of been able to lean on and help get guidance on where I need to go and what to do,” Stringer added. “Just scaling everything back for me, he’s been an amazing support for me.”
Stringer is a one-time All-Australian and six-time leading goalkicker for the Bulldogs and Essendon but injuries and consistency have often held him back. The 29-year-old insists he's ready to go to another level in 2024 and says it will all come down to his improved lifestyle and mindset.
“Not saying my lifestyle was extravagant (but) I didn’t know how to deal with things so I’ve just gone away and worked at those (issues). It’s something that I take day by day (to) become a better person, a better father, a better teammate, and just all around better human, really.”
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