Out-of-favour Western Bulldogs forward Jake Stringer has reportedly spoken to Essendon coach John Worsfold in the past week about a potential move to the Bombers.
Stringer, who will be shopped by the Bulldogs in the upcoming trade period after Luke Beveridge decided he couldn't remain at the club, spoke to Worsfold on the phone as he begins to decide where he wants to play next season.
Ex-Bomber and Stringer's former teammate at the Bulldogs, Adam Cooney, believes Essendon would be a great fit for the 23-year-old, although they aren't the only club that have Stringer on their radar.
The 2015 All-Australian is set to speak with Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley in the coming days as well, as the Pies' new development coach Matthew Boyd is set to get the two parties together.
“I think ‘Woosha’ (Worsfold) has spoken to Jake throughout the week so I think it’d be a good fit if he got to Essendon,” Cooney told AFL Nation radio.
“Obviously, it is probably one of the easier trades to do with Essendon. They have a mid first-round pick, and I think that could get it done.”
The 2008 Brownlow Medallist said he spoke to Stringer during the week, who has now come to terms with the fact he won't be at Whitten Oval next season.
“I spoke to Jake during the week and it certainly wasn’t his idea to be traded,” Cooney said.
“It was a conversation through the exit meeting and there was a lot made of the exit meaning about how he stormed out post that, but (he didn’t).
“The relationship between coach and player is almost untenable and not everyone at the Bulldogs wants to trade Jake Stringer, but the coach doesn’t like him.
“At the end of the day, if the coach is off you, you have to look elsewhere.
“His main problem ... is that his coach thought he was lazy, wasn’t working hard enough and you can see that on the field, he needs to work harder, and his approach to training is not professional enough.
“At the end of the day ... this is not something that has happened over two or three weeks ... he has been told this for a long time.
“He’s accepted that he needs to move to another club.”
Despite not having any first round picks, Geelong still looms as a possible destination for Stringer, while St Kilda have also expressed interest in the premiership player.
Over the course of his 89-game career, Stringer has kicked 160 goals, and averaged 12.8 disposals and 3.2 marks per game.