GWS forward Jake Stringer has announced he will likely leave the Giants at the end of the season and return home to be closer to family in Victoria.
During a press conference on Thursday ahead of his 250th game, Stringer said Saturday's match against Adelaide would likely be his last at the Giants.
Stringer has had one of the best seasons of his career, booting 42 goals from 22 games.
The 32-year-old would leave as an unrestricted free agent and wouldn't cost a club much to acquire him. So who would be the leading contenders to sign for The Package?
Collingwood
The Magpies seem like the most obvious landing spot for the out-of-contract Stringer.
Collingwood doesn't mind targeting a talented veteran, with the Pies also hunting Brisbane star Lachie Neale, and Stringer would help add guaranteed goals to a forward line mix of Daniel McStay, Jamie Elliott (once his ACL is healed) and Charlie West.
Stringer believes he still has a few good years left as a player, and coach Craig McRae is well known for squeezing any possible last ounce of talent out of his players and allowing them to become the best version of themselves.
The Magpies' ability to always be in games and likely return to being premiership contenders after a trade raid will appeal to Stringer.
As will the fact that Collingwood plays in packed-out crowds no matter where the Pies play. A nice change compared to his past two seasons at GWS.
