Kane Cornes warns Jake Stringer 'it can end pretty quickly' as Bombers star looks 'not fit enough'
Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes says Essendon star Jake Stringer needs to consider changing his lifestyle, or risk ending his career.
Stringer, 29, has struggled to make an impact as the Bombers have suffered consecutive heavy losses to put a dent in their finals hopes.
During a 41-point loss to the Bulldogs at the weekend Stringer touched the ball eight times and kicked one behind.
READ MORE: 'Absolutely devastated': Football icon dead at 69
READ MORE: BBC apologises over 'inappropriate' question to World Cup skipper
READ MORE: Gallen reveals motive behind Luai's Penrith exit
The polarising forward recently praised the Bombers and coach Brad Scott for showing faith in him throughout an injury-hampered period.
"Jake it's about time you repaid that faith from the footy club," Cornes said on Nine's Footy Classified on Monday.
Jake Stringer of the Bombers. Getty
"He hasn't kicked more than one goal in 10 weeks, clearly he's visibly not fit enough and he's not working hard enough.
"He can't turn, doesn't have the agility, and he's had eight touches in the last three weeks. He's too good for that.
"You get what you deserve in football, and when you don't train and you don't work hard enough throughout the pre-season, when you don't present yourself as an elite athlete this is what happens in July, August, and September.
Footy Classified is now available as a podcast! Subscribe/follow via Apple, Spotify or Google Podcasts.
"It can end pretty quickly, and at 29 years of age he needs to turn his lifestyle around and the way he is preparing himself."
It's not the first time Cornes has been critical of Stringer's fitness levels.
Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd speculated Stringer may be carrying a niggle.
"He looks injured... but even if you're injured you still should be cut, shouldn't you," Lloyd said, referencing Stringer's body shape.
Cornes agreed a niggling injury was no excuse to let fitness slide.
"You can still control what you eat, you can control the way you train - non-weight bearing, jump in the pool, you can get on the bike," Cornes said.
"Physically he may not be able to train like everyone else, but it's no excuse to present yourself unfit as an elite athlete."
Friday's loss saw the Bombers slip outside the top eight, and they now sit 11th with five rounds remaining before finals.
They next face the Swans at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
Where are they now? The Essendon 34 a decade on from the saga that defined them
