Jake Stringer is expected to do a medical at St Kilda on Monday as the club moves towards signing the goalkicker as a delisted free agent.
The 32-year-old kicked 48 goals for the Giants in 2026 from 93 shots at goal but was delisted at the end of the season as the club looked to reset for its next generation to emerge.
Known to commentators as “The Package”, Stringer would add much needed firepower to the Saints, who finished 11th in 2026 without the services of injured spearhead Max King and with Liam Ryan their leading goalkicker with 33 goals.
Stringer, who played in the Western Bulldogs 2016 premiership was recruited by Saints’ recruiting manager Simon Dalrymple in the 2012 national draft alongside Jack Macrae. He would join Macrae at the Saints if they decide to sign him.
Stringer is a proven goalkicker, with 440 goals to his name from 250 matches at three clubs – the Western Bulldogs, Essendon and the Giants for the past two seasons. Two industry sources, who preferred to remain anonymous when discussing contract matters, said the Saints were moving towards securing Stringer.
The strong-bodied forward said late in the season, as he prepared for his final game as a Giant, that he was comfortable with the club’s decision not to renew his contract. He admitted the timing was right for him, as he wanted to spend more time with his daughters in Melbourne, and for the club, which was looking to develop a new crop of young forwards.
But he was adamant he was still capable of performing well at the top level.
“I definitely feel like I have quite a few years left,” he said.
He is one of several delisted players attracting interest from new clubs. Essendon’s Elijah Tsatas, Richmond’s Samson Ryan and Carlton’s Zach Williams are also on the radar of clubs after the completion of the AFL trade period last week.
After a big trade period last season when they recruited Tom De Koning, Jack Silvagni, Liam Ryan and Sam Flanders, the Saints were much quieter last week. They brought in Sam Marshall from the Brisbane Lions and sent Rowan Marshall to Geelong. The Saints now have picks 10 and 16 in this year’s national draft and are hoping for previous top-10 picks Tobie Travaglia and Alix Tauru to become regular senior players in 2027.
The next delisted free agency period opens in the first week of November.
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