Essendon’s transition into its coaching succession plan has begun perfectly according to gun goalkicker Jake Stringer.

The plan will see assistant coach Ben Rutten take over the reins as senior coach when John Worsfold departs The Hangar at the end of the 2020 season, with Rutten taking on greater responsibility over tactics this year alongside his usual role leading team defence.    

While he is “not surprised” with the smooth changes to date, Stringer lauded the pair for their professionalism. 

“The work that John and Ben have done together has been absolutely outstanding,” Stringer said on SEN on Friday morning.

“It’s literally the smoothest transition that you could possibly ever see and it’s a credit to both of them how well it’s actually gone. 

“I couldn’t be happier with where the club’s at at the minute.”

Stringer praised the addition of 2000 premiership-winning Bomber Blake Caracella, who has taken on a key role since returning to the club following a fruitful coaching stint at Richmond. 

“John is here every day and still talks to us, but Ben takes more of the tactical stuff with the team defence and Caracella coming from Richmond takes over the offence. It all works in together and John oversees it all.

“(Caracella is leading) ball movement, offence and he’s also in charge of the midfielders as well.

“The amount of knowledge that he’s brought in in a short amount of time has been outstanding for our group.”

Stringer said while the changes to the Bombers’ game plan haven’t been drastic, fans can expect to see far more consistency from the side in 2020. 

“We’re confident in our new game plan that it will stand up,” he said. 

“It’s not (a) dramatic (change), but it will definitely be a lot more consistent.

“Even in training you’re seeing it more and more every time we’re doing little bits of match simulation, so I think it will be really noticeable when people come to watch us.”

Stringer is confident the side is in a position to springboard off a physically and mentally challenging pre-season, one he says has been among his best.

Just 50 days remain until the team’s opening game of the season against Fremantle at Marvel Stadium on March 21, but he isn’t looking too far ahead.

“No one knows (how the season will play out); everyone is always flying in the pre-season, but you don’t really know until round one. 

“We’ll just keep ticking away down here at the airport and we’ll wait and see how we go.”