Dons keen to lock in Jones
But Stringer shaping for big pay rise
has started contract talks with emerging forward Harrison Jones but must haggle over Jake Stringer’s rising price tag given his early season form.
The forward line appeared in disarray as they rebuilt in 2020 but Jones, pictured, and Stringer have paired well with Cale Hooker (21 goals) and Anthony McDonaldTipungwuti (18 goals).
The second-year key forward took five contested marks in a three-goal performance against Carlton as a breakout performance of an encouraging second season.
His initial season was wiped out by a stress fracture injury but the No 30 selection in the 2019 national draft appears a 10-year player for the Dons.
Essendon will also be keen to extend its trio of top-10 picks in Archie Perkins, Nik Cox and Zach Reid past their initial two-year deals. But Stringer’s form will require a chunk of the $2m plus cap space given his start to the year as a midforward.
He is coming off a four-year deal of about $2.2m and having only turned 27 last week is entering the peak of his career.
Stringer’s value is as a point-of-difference midfielder comfortable in the centre square or as a leading forward.
He has kicked 12.5 from seven games this year but is also averaging 5.6 score involvements, 3.2 clearances and 2.8 centre clearances.
The Bombers have scored from 15 per cent of his clearances since Round 3 — ranked second of the top-25 midfielders to attend a centre bounce. If he can continue that form he will show he can command the kind of $800,000-a-season figures the premier midfielders are able to secure.
It would also allay the need for another crack at Josh Dunkley as a mid-forward given Essendon’s midfield depth.
Essendon is increasingly confident of securing Zach Merrett, who could yet be the club’s next captain given his strong leadership and consistent form.
At this stage the Dons do not have the draft collateral for a serious crack at Dunkley, with the asking price last summer two first-round picks.
Essendon has its first selection in the draft, currently pick four, but moved on its second pick to GWS in the Jy Caldwell trade.
Dogs chief executive Ameet Bains said the club “absolutely” expected rivals, including Essendon, to go again over the contracted Dunkley.