When Jake Stringer won a free kick on Essendon's 50-metre line in the first quarter last week against Melbourne, there were two reasons he chose to have a shot at goal.
One was teammate Devon Smith's encouragement, a smile and a wink from the teammate who also joined the Bombers in the 2017 trade period.
And the other was the jeering of a bay of Demons supporters next to him in the pocket, with Stringer never one to shy away from a big moment.
"I heard them booing about the free kick and the Dees fans were giving it to me over my left shoulder," Stringer told AFL.com.au this week.
"I looked at Dev and he smiled and said 'Goal it, have a crack'. I knew I'd kick the distance comfortably, so that wasn't a concern.
"As soon as they started booing I thought [I'd go for it]. I seem to enjoy that side of things. It doesn't really worry me."
The former Western Bulldog converted the shot – the 55-metre kick sailed through easily – before turning to the Melbourne faithful with a grin and a fist pump. It was one of four goals Stringer kicked last week, in a dominant attacking display as the Bombers registered their first win.
Jake Stringer was in fine touch against the Dees. (Photo: AFL Media)
Stringer is Essendon's showman, and one of few in the red and black who could have slotted the kick. And, according to the 24-year-old, he expects to be doing plenty more of the same after an uninterrupted pre-season and fitness base that sees him confident his best as a player is still to come.
That's good news for the Bombers, given Stringer's history pre-Essendon. In just his third season he shot to prominence with a 56-goal season that saw him named an All Australian. The next year, he played in the Dogs' breakthrough premiership.
Things have always moved quickly in Stringer's career: a year after the flag, he was pushed out of the Bulldogs and joined the Bombers, where he was their leading goalkicker last season (30 goals from 20 games).
He admits to difficulties through that period, but believes a stable environment at Essendon will see him eclipse his feats of 2015.
"I'm in a really good headspace now and I hope everything can run smoothly with my body. I think my form will only get better and better," Stringer said.
"You can go through parts of time, or a year or two, where you're a bit clouded from things that are going on in your personal life. But for me, having a clear mind and the change coming here has been awesome and I really feel like my best footy is still coming.
"I don't think 2015 was the peak of my career … I was unfit in 2015. I think it was only really scratching the surface. I think there's a lot to come."
There are reasons behind that confidence. He had an uninterrupted pre-season, and feels his speed is back at a high level, something he thinks he lacked last year.
As a deep forward, Stringer knows his Essendon teammates better: who kicks low, who kicks high, who passes long and short, who tries to dodge and weave and who just slams it on the boot.
"It's not as easy as just leading and taking the mark. You've got to know what different peoples' kicking abilities are like," Stringer said.
Stringer enjoys playing deep in attack, where he has been Essendon's most dangerous and nimble target so far this season. He also believes his forward pressure – the tackling, the bumps, the smothers and constant threat – is getting back to his 2015 levels.
But coach John Worsfold has also deployed him at centre stoppages, using his power and strength to feed the ball out. The taste of that last season means he entered 2019 more clear around how he could make an impact in that spot, too.
Stringer is the only player at Essendon to have premiership experience, and one of only two (alongside former Docker Zac Clarke) to have played in a Grand Final.
Some teammates have asked him about that experience, but he's focused on winning his next premiership, rather than celebrating his last.
"You don't want to bring up past glories. I don't want to be seen here as the only one who's played in a premiership. I want to bring that to this group and for us to taste that," he said.
"I don't want to [tell them what it's like] and take away that special feeling. I had no idea what it would be like when I was playing, so for me it's to try and help this group get a premiership."
Stringer was brought to the club with that in mind. Alongside Smith and Adam Saad in 2017, and Dylan Shiel in 2018, the Bombers have put plenty of their stocks in rival recruits. They started the season with two listless defeats, but that didn't rock the club's hopes for this year.
"If you're at a football club and they're saying they're not trying to win the premiership that year, then what are you doing? Why are you playing? For us, it's all systems go," he said.
"No matter how young or how old. For me, wherever I've played, whether it's here or at the Bulldogs, your goal is to win a premiership that year. For me, that's how it is."
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