Essendon coach Brad Scott has taken the strain off Jake Stringer in his anticipated AFL return on Saturday, saying the star ahead solely needed to “slot in” along with his Bombers teammates quite than produce a dominant efficiency.
Having injured his hamstring within the pre-season, Stringer’s return to soccer got here by way of the VFL final weekend.
Glad that Stringer is prepared for top-flight responsibility, Scott will decide him for Saturday’s conflict in opposition to fellow unbeaten staff St Kilda on the MCG.
“We anticipate we’ll choose him primarily based on our major coaching session at the moment,” Scott stated on Thursday.
“He’s simply bought to come back in and play the position that we’re asking him to.
“Whereas it’s good to have a participant of Jake’s high quality again within the facet, we don’t count on him to do any extra or any lower than anybody else.
“Completely different folks have totally different views on how he needs to be greatest performed, however he’s simply bought to slot in with our personnel and the system that we wish inside our personnel.”
Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply Stringer received’t be inspired to offer his customary “energy and energy” to Essendon’s ahead line in addition to the Bombers’ midfield.
“He’s an actual influence participant,” Scott stated.
“It nonetheless leaves freedom for him to play to his instincts and to his strengths.
“That’s what we’ve talked about all pre-season – we wish him to play to his absolute energy, which is energy and energy.”
Whereas happy along with his facet’s good begin to the season, Scott stated the Bombers had “a variety of work to do to get to the place we wish to be”.
“We’ve at all times talked about perspective,” Scott stated.
“It’s rather a lot simpler to bolster what you’re doing while you’re getting outcomes.
“It’s very tough to bolster rules when, on the floor no less than, they’re not engaged on sport day.
“We’re nonetheless removed from the place we wish to be in all facets of the sport, in order that needs to be thrilling for our supporters to know that we’ve bought big scope as nicely.
“We’re going to have an enormous check this week in opposition to an excellent facet in St Kilda.”
