AFL

3 months ago

Cornes backs Essendon’s Stringer “statement” despite Merrett displeasure

By Lachlan Geleit

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Kane Cornes has backed Essendon’s call to not offer Jake Stringer a contract beyond the end of the 2025 season.

As things stand, Stringer has hit a clause in his current deal that has seen him earn another year for 2025. While he has a deal in front of him, the forward is reportedly hoping for a longer-term contract.

Even though Stringer kicked 42 goals in 2024 - the 18th most in the competition - Cornes thinks it’s the right move to only give the 30-year-old one-year deals as he’s free to look around for extra years with rival clubs.

“I love this from Essendon, I’ve been calling for this for a long time,” Cornes said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.

“Jake Stringer has hit a contract clause to get an extra year for next year.

“But he wants longer than that, and the Bombers have said, ‘If you want longer than that, go somewhere else and have a look around’.”

According to a report from Sam McClure in The Age, Dons captain Zach Merrett had a meeting with coach Brad Scott to put his support behind Stringer in his search for more contract security.

While the captain thinks his teammate is deserving of a longer contract, Cornes backed the club’s stance as he feels having Stringer on one-year deals for the rest of his career will keep him on his toes and performing to extend his career season upon season.

“Sam McClure said that Zach Merrett wasn’t happy with that and he vented his frustrations with the club. He thinks there should be a longer tenure,” Cornes said.

“But this is the exact way to play Jake Stringer. He should never be signed on anything longer than a one-year deal from here on until the end of his deal.

“If he wants to go somewhere else, he can go somewhere else. This is a statement from a club that needed to make a statement.”

Stringer isn’t a free agent and will need to be traded if he does choose to sign a longer-term deal with a rival club.

Essendon