DYNAMITE utility Jake Stringer will be given time to get fully fit and become the \u201cstrength and power\u201d athlete that he is, coach Brad Scott has said.<\/p>\n
Stringer and his fitness have been one of the bigger talking points so far in 2023.<\/p>\n
After groin setbacks hampered the back half of his 2022 season, Stringer has been dealing with a back issue in recent weeks.<\/p>\n
After his last season failed to live up to the hype he generated in 2021 and his fitness struggles early this year, Kane Cornes last week blasted the 28-year-old for failing to turn up in better shape.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe’s back to square one, overweight, injured and watching on,\u201d Cornes said on SEN\u2019s Sportsday.<\/p>\n
\u201cJake Stringer is destined to be another talented player than never reached their potential. He only has himself to blame\u201d.<\/p>\n
Cornes also referenced comments from Scott himself at the club\u2019s best and fairest last year, urging his players to return with good fitness levels.<\/p>\n
While Stringer\u2019s interrupted pre-season could suggest he didn\u2019t heed his coach’s warning, Scott insisted his club\u2019s plan was to have the power forward at his explosive best.<\/p>\n
\u201cJake, from my understanding anyway, played a fair bit of last year with a fair bit of groin soreness,\u201d Scott told reporters on Friday,\u201d Scott said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I look at Jake Stringer he is a strength [and] power athlete. When coaching against him previously, he\u2019s always someone you\u2019re worried about.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always been concerned from an opposition perspective that it\u2019s Jake\u2019s power and impact in games that are his real weapons.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur focus with Jake has been, first and foremost, to get him injury free and to get him pain-free, that\u2019s been our number one focus during the pre-season.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Stringer sat out match simulation as recently as last week, Scott said his charge is now pain-free.<\/p>\n
The Bomber\u2019s career-high level came when playing a mix of on-ball and up forward throughout the middle of the 2021 season, proving a consistent goal-kicker while also gathering around 20 touches a game.<\/p>\n
Scott\u2019s comments suggest he\u2019s not fazed by his player\u2019s condition and has a clear plan for Stringer going forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow at that stage that he is pain-free, our focus has been on building his strength and power,\u201d Scott said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you design any individual training program you have to weigh up what you prioritise, and we prioritise his strength and power, that\u2019s the type of player we want him to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo for those who want him to be a marathon runner or an elite transitional player, I don\u2019t think that\u2019s where Jake\u2019s strength is.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis strength is something very few players in the competition have got, so that will be our focus and we\u2019ll play him in a style that suits that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stringer managed 15 appearances in 2022 and averaged 13.1 disposals and 1.7 goals a game.<\/p>\n