“I’d be lying if I said I’d done everything right”: Stringer breaks silence

Jake Stringer says he was “shocked” to learn the Bulldogs would be putting him up for trade, after the matter wasn’t raised in his exit interview.

“I was really confident walking out of there,” Jake said on AFL Trade Radio.

“I’ve always been happy at the Bulldogs, I’ve never thought about leaving the club.”

Stringer said he only learned his fate through a phone call from his manager Paul Connors.

He conceded he did not have his best season, but repeatedly said he’d “put in the hard work” all year.

“I’d be lying if I said I’d done everything right over my time.

“I haven’t had the greatest year, personally.”

“I was pretty unlucky this year with a few injuries, but I put in the hard work.”

Connors said Stringer wants to stay in Melbourne to stay close to his young family

Liam Pickering stayed mum about Gary Ablett’s potential retirement or relocation to Geelong.

He also said he’d had a “general discussion” with Essendon about the 33-year-old.