Stringer to weigh up AFL future with 'Dogs

Sep 6, 2017 - 11:36 PM Jake Stringer's future at the Western Bulldogs is in the balance, with teammate Mitch Wallis saying the star forward must commit fully to the AFL club.

After making the 2015 All-Australian team and playing in last year's historic premiership team, Stringer had his struggles on and off the field this year as the Bulldogs dropped out of the finals.

While Stringer is contracted to the Bulldogs, it has emerged he and the club could be open to a trade.

Wallis did not dodge the issue on Thursday morning when asked about Stringer, saying the Bulldogs wanted the mercurial forward to confirm he wanted to stay.

"I want him to stay and he's a contracted player," Wallis told SEN radio.

"They've still got some things they need to work through and Jake needs to be fully committed to want to play for the Dogs, and I think he is.

"But time will tell.

"If he decides to stay, he'll stay for a long time and, if he doesn't, then good luck to him."

Wallis said he caught up with Stringer in the past few days for a game of golf.

Stringer struggled with injuries this season and managed only 24 goals in 16 games.

He was among several premiership players to have below-par seasons as the Bulldogs became the first defending premiers since Hawthorn in 2009 to miss the finals.

Asked if there was a disconnect between Stringer and the club, Wallis replied: "I imagine there was.

"He's had a couple of injuries late in the year, which obviously made it hard on him," he said.

"He's still contracted and I know that doesn't mean much these days but I'm sure, over the next few weeks, he'll have a fair bit of thinking time - what his future looks like, what he wants to do."

Source: AAP