Jake Stringer can dominate Docklands like Gary Ablett did at the MCG

[bornadog]

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EMERGING superstar Jake Stringer is fast becoming King of the Docklands, just as Gary Ablett Sr once ruled the MCG.
Etihad Stadium has become the Western Bulldogs’ secret weapon after a 10-game winning streak at the venue with an average margin of 49 points.
Stringer, 21, has kicked two bags of five goals and three bags of four at Etihad.
Ablett dominated at the MCG with 291 goals in 55 games, an incredible strike rate that included nine goals in a losing Grand Final side and a bag of 14.

Two of Stringer’s five goals on Sunday at Etihad — where the Dogs play their next six games — drew comparisons with Ablett’s highlights reel.
An array of Geelong stars and former coaches agreed Stringer’s hunched shoulders, awesome power and ability to burst from a pack into space reminded them of Ablett’s marauding presence.

He is a super-impressive player. He has a long way to go but he has those characteristics — the strong trunk and strong legs.
“He can do anything on either side, he can play big or small and you can see why there are those comparisons.
“He is an excitement machine. Stringer and Ablett had those things — the ability to turn a game, to bust through a pack and kick a goal.”

Former Cats defender Tim McGrath played five seasons with Ablett.
“(Stringer) has that X factor about him, the unpredictability Gazza had. The freaks have that,” he said.
“He’s got that similar physique, the hunched shoulders.
“Those blokes see the game half a step in front of anyone else, put the hammer down and get out of a tight situation.
“They are supreme athletes. They seem to be able to do that stuff with supreme ease.”
Former Geelong coach Gary Ayres, whose ability as a player to excel in heavy traffic was legendary, said Stringer needed to perform for a decade to get near Ablett.

“With that explosive speed and hunched shoulders you could say yes, but Jake is in his third year,” Ayres said.
“For Stringer to be able to work out how good he can be, that’s the unknown.
“There were games where I was coach where you only had to get the ball in a reasonable proximity and it was guaranteed Gary would do something special.
“We want players who mesmerise the opposition and crowd and it’s Gary, its Buddy Franklin, it’s Jake Stringer.”



The Dogs clearly thrive on the fast Docklands track, but their success at the ground is about more than high scores.

Luke Beveridge’s side has kept rivals to a miserly 60.7 points for in its 10-game streak, piling on an average of 109.6 points.
The club’s dashing defenders slingshot the ball from the defensive 50m into the forward 50m nearly one in three times (29.8 per cent), a massive number compared to the AFL average.

The club’s possession, clearance and inside-50 differential are all dominant at the ground.


DANGER MAN
Jake Stringer in the Dogs’ 10 straight Etihad Stadium wins 2015

Rd9: Did not play
Rd12: 5.0
Rd13: 0.2
Rd14: 3.0
Rd17: 1.3
Rd18: 4.2
Rd19: 4.4
Rd20: 4.0
Rd22: 1.2
2016
Rd1: 5.1

[bornadog]

It is worth going to the footy, just to see this bloke.

[lemmon]

Looked to have his set shot kicking right on the weekend too. We love the flash stuff but if he's kicking 4.1 from 5 shots rather than 3.2 he becomes a far better player

[ratsmac]

I love Jake and he is getting better every game but he has a fair way to go to match Gary Ablett snr. How many times I saw Ablett destroy a team virtually on his own.

Jake certainly has something very very special though and the way he is tracking this isn't the last time we will be visiting this thread.

[jeemak]

It's hard to compare him to GAS because the game's so different compared to how it was in 80-90's.

With the constraints on space in the modern game (unless a team is on the break) players are up against it to find room to move. Jake does this better than anyone.

[Ozza]

With all this hype...he's odds-on to not kick a goal this week!

[bornadog]

With all this hype...he's odds-on to not kick a goal this week!

He seems to be a fairly level headed bloke and doesn't get carried away with all the hype (I hope )

[Murphy'sLore]

He knows exactly how good he is!

[Greystache]

I love Jake and he is getting better every game but he has a fair way to go to match Gary Ablett snr. How many times I saw Ablett destroy a team virtually on his own.

Jake certainly has something very very special though and the way he is tracking this isn't the last time we will be visiting this thread.

Jake's a long way ahead of Ablett at the same age. Ablett had barely established himself as a senior player by the time Stringer was All Australian, and at Jake's age now Ablett kicked a career best 33 goals.

Obviously Stringer will have to improve rapidly to match Ablett's career trajectory, but at this stage the comparison is more than fair.

[1eyedog]

Yeah he would eat this coverage up. Loved how Bevi isolated him on Sunday. You could smell the fear of of that loan Docker on him. Brilliant.

[bornadog]

He is very hard to match up on due to size and physical strength. Most teams don't have a good sized second fullback. So what do you do, match up on a massive Tom Boyd or put your best FB on Stringer.

[Bulldog Revolution]

He is very hard to match up on due to size and physical strength. Most teams don't have a good sized second fullback. So what do you do, match up on a massive Tom Boyd or put your best FB on Stringer.

The bigs cant go with him on the ground, and the smalls cant go with him in the air

[soupman]

The bigs cant go with him on the ground, and the smalls cant go with him in the air

I think it's more the big's can't go with him on the ground, and the smalls get brushed aside by him on the ground. His strength is his mix of power, speed and confidence to use both.

[Dancin' Douggy]

And soon the bigs won't be able to go with him in the air either.
No one will be able to go with him anywhere.
Try to match him with pace he'll out muscle you.
Try to out muscle him, he'll kill you with pace. (and he'll out muscle you anyway.)

Try to match him for like, he'll out jump you, out sizzle you, out freak you, out everything you.

Boy I'm looking forward to watching his whole career.

[bornadog]

And soon the bigs won't be able to go with him in the air either.
No one will be able to go with him anywhere.
Try to match him with pace he'll out muscle you.
Try to out muscle him, he'll kill you with pace. (and he'll out muscle you anyway.)

Try to match him for like, he'll out jump you, out sizzle you, out freak you, out everything you.

Boy I'm looking forward to watching his whole career.

Enjoy