Essendon star Jake Stringer called out for being 'overweight' after latest injury setback
Essendon star Jake Stringer has been grilled over his lack of fitness following yet another pre-season interrupted by injury issues.
While player fitness levels have been a key focus in new coach Brad Scott's first pre-season at the club, Stringer has been forced to undergo modified training over the past week due to a back issue.
The 28-year-old forward sat out an intra-club game on Wednesday due to back soreness stemming from a training session last week.
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It's the second consecutive year that Stringer's pre-season has been halted by an injury after he dealt with a groin issue 12 months earlier, and Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes called out the mercurial star for his apparent lack of preparation.
"I was taken aback when photos emerged of Stringer presenting for day one of pre-season," Cornes wrote in a column for SEN.
Jake Stringer and Essendon coach Brad Scott in discussion during a pre-season training session AFL Photos via Getty Images
"By an elite athlete's standards, he was overweight. Again.
"And now he's injured, and his pre-season has been interrupted. Again."
Cornes called on Scott and Essendon to be ruthless with Stringer, urging the club to mirror South Africa's decision to leave out star Dane Van Niekerk from its T20 World Cup squad due to a 2km time trial result.
"Until Stringer achieves strict fitness and body measurement goals, Scott should not consider picking him in the senior team," Cornes wrote.
"In Scott's words, Essendon requires hard work, discipline and unity to achieve long overdue success- unfortunately, his most talented player has shown none of the three.
"Jake Stringer is destined to be another talented player than never reached their potential. He only has himself to blame."
