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The curiosity surrounding Stringer’s future
Andrew Slevison • July 23rd, 2026 11:23 am
Will Jake Stringer remain with GWS? Will he play for a fourth club? Or is it curtains at season's end?
The 32-year-old forward is out of contract at the end of the season and is yet to sign an extension with the Giants.
Formerly of the Western Bulldogs and Essendon, Stringer has played some good footy for the Giants in recent weeks, but a new deal has not been forthcoming.
Stringer bagged seven goals in a stirring win over flag fancies Fremantle in Round 17 before kicking 0.7 from eight shots in the narrow loss to Essendon last Sunday.
Despite the fact he leads the Giants for goals in 2026 with 36, his playing future remains a curiosity.
SEN’s Sam Edmund says it’s unlikely that Stringer will be a Giant in 2027, and is not so certain that any other clubs will look his way to offer a career lifeline.
“I don’t think he’ll be at GWS next year,” Edmund said on SEN Breakfast.
“I’ve really wrestled all morning with how to report this.”
Tim Watson asked: “Is there something going on in the background that you don’t want to report yet because it doesn’t have enough meat on the bone?’
Edmund replied: “Yes!
“The best way to answer it is I’m not convinced he’ll be at GWS next year.
“And I think a lot of other clubs would take convincing to take him on. How about I put it like that.
“I think there might be a world where he doesn’t continue next year, maybe.”
Watson reacted: “Right. Well that’s more intriguing then.”
Edmund continued: “The guy kicked seven goals in a game not too long ago.
“How can he not get a new contract? He kicked seven against Fremantle in Canberra and won them the game.
“So how can it be that he is not going to get a new contract?”
Watson and Edmund pondered if there’s something lacking away from the playing obligations that is obvious to GWS’ list management team.
Watson: “He kicked seven behinds on the weekend, he had a lot of it, so you’d certainly think that he’s got at least another season left in him.
“Has it got something to do with stuff around off-field?”
Edmund: “It requires all parts, doesn’t it? Not just finding the Sherrin and kicking the ball through the two big sticks.
“It requires everything, and not every player has everything all of the time.”
Stringer has played 245 games across his 14-year AFL career, including 33 for the Giants since joining from Essendon in the 2024 trade period.
He won the 2016 premiership with the Bulldogs where was an All-Australian in 2015.
