Port Adelaide premiership player Kane Cornes has sent out a warning to Essendon over discussions surrounding the extension of the enigmatic Jake Stringer's contract.

Stringer was put under the blowtorch by many in the footballing community after he appeared unfit and overweight in several games in season 2020.

Coupled with nagging injuries which have plagued his career in recent times, the 27-year-old has had to work hard to get back into the team and play top level football.

This rejuvenation was epitomised on Sunday, as Stringer put on a show in Launceston to get his Essendon side over the line against Alastair Clarkson's Hawthorn.

The Bulldogs premiership player was electric, booting four majors, laying seven tackles and finishing with 29 touches as he dragged his side to victory.

Despite such an emphatic display, Cornes has warned the Bomber about being short-sighted and offering Stringer a bumper contract off the back of his recent performances.,

"If I was in negotiations with Jake Stringer, while we're celebrating that game yesterday, I'd be going to his management and showing him the vision of last year where self-admittedly he was seven kilograms overweight," Cornes said onย Footy Classifiedย on Monday.

"You only give the big long-term contracts to the absolute elite, to the absolute professionals.

"We cannot put past us how he presented himself last year and that was overweight for an athlete's standard, it wasn't good enough."

 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 26: Jake Stringer of the Bombers celebrates a goal during the round 10 AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Essendon Bombers at Spotless Stadium on May 26, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Matthew Lloyd echoed Cornes' sentiments with his take on the situation.

"I'd keep [Stringer's contract] three years and I'd make it around that $500,000 mark again with incentives, a top five in the best and fairest, playing 18 plus games a year," Lloyd said onย Footy Classified.

"He's one of those players you've got to keep having him on edge and targeting towards something.

"As good as yesterday was, he's not a Darcy Parish and he's not a Zach Merrett that's going to do it for you week after week."

Stringer has been handy for the Bombers this season, averaging 13.9 disposals, 2.2 goals and 3.8 tackles per game - all above average or elite level figures for his position.

JAKE STRINGER
Forward
Essendon
ROUND 14 STATS
4
Goals
3
Marks
1
Goal Assists

His resurgence has come at time when the club is building and showing promise with their footballing style, with Essendon now in 10th place and one win off the top eight.

This week is a huge test for Ben Rutten's side, going up against ladder-leaders Melbourne at the MCG. Should they get an upset against the Demons, then Essendon's season might just come alive again.