In his most recent outing against his old club Essendon, Jake Stringer proved exactly why he is such a tantalizing talent. He is doing everything possible to get settled in his competitive rookie debut campaign as the first season of the Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giants. Since leaving the Cats for the Giants last off-season, Stringer has taken his game to another level. He is now leading the way on his team’s deep potential forward line.
Stringer finished the match with three goals and 18 disposals. His success was instrumental to the Giants offensive onslaughts. He copped a bit of booing from Bombers fans early in the game, but Stringer soon had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. His most notable contributions came in taking strong, contested marks and getting teammates involved in scoring opportunities inside 50 during a dominant third quarter.
Some of Stringer’s production is impressive, but it’s his fire and desire that pop off the screen. After taking an impressive mark, he jokingly pushed his ex-Tasmanian teammate Zach Laverde in the chest. This action brought out their playful blend of friendship and competition. Laverde and Stringer’s connection now. As teammates, Stringer and Laverde have become entrepreneurial companions. Stringer even suggested that Laverde is the only Bombers player he continues to speak to on a daily basis.
Giants coach Adam Kingsley observed Stringer’s nerves before the match, but was happy with what he saw. “He was quite nervous coming into the game, but I thought he played with a lot of respect and competed hard,” Kingsley said.
Earlier on in the season Stringer didn’t have a bad run with injuries that cut his early time in Sydney short. From that point he has gradually adjusted to his surroundings and new role as a penetrating guard in Indiana’s team. With each passing game, he’s starting to prove that he can become a focal point for the Giants on offense.
Looking back on his career so far, Stringer said he’s happy with where he is. “That’s probably the happiest I’ve been in a long time,” he stated, indicating a newfound sense of fulfillment both on and off the field.
Stringer is helping to find a way in the Giants’ deep lineup. His contributions could determine how far this team goes this season. With the ability to score himself and create for others, he ranks as one of the most important pieces to the club’s long term hopes.
