Essendon Football Club is actively exploring opportunities to strengthen its attacking options ahead of the new season, with a particular interest in Gyan Miers of Geelong and potential re-engagement with former forward Jake Stringer.
On Sunday, Mark McVeigh, Essendon’s newly appointed coach, met with Stringer for coffee in what the club described as a casual, family-related catch-up. Stringer, who is married to McVeigh’s cousin, is a delisted free agent and could be available to return to Essendon. The 28-year-old forward, known for his 48 goals last season, has expressed openness to participating in a pre-season with a club to demonstrate his fitness and character.
Essendon has not made any commitment to Stringer’s return. Two years prior, the club allowed Stringer to depart amid concerns raised by the AFL integrity unit about his associations. Nevertheless, teammates, including Jesse Hogan, have recently praised Stringer’s evolution into a dependable family man and valuable team player.
Meanwhile, Essendon has also made inquiries regarding Geelong’s Gyan Miers, who has attracted attention from several clubs following a medical examination with West Coast. However, Miers’ management has firmly ruled out a move to the Eagles but remains open to a transfer within Victoria. Geelong remains willing to retain Miers, despite recent signings, and does not appear motivated to offload his contract ahead of the 2027 season.
Miers faces a significant decision about his future, weighing whether he still fits into Geelong’s evolving forward structure, which now includes the addition of Toby Greene and the emergence of Oliver Wiltshire as a threatening half-forward flanker. The prospect of greater contract security and a salary increase may be factors that could entice Miers to consider a move to another Victorian club such as Essendon.
Injury concerns persist for Miers, who sustained a partial ACL tear during the current year. He has opted against surgery and is hopeful the injury will not hamper his performance moving forward. While his choice to continue playing without reconstructive surgery is uncommon, former Hawthorn fitness expert Andrew Russell noted there have been instances of players managing partial ACL tears successfully in recent seasons. Despite promising recovery progress, clubs remain cautious about offering a long-term contract due to the potential need for future surgery.
Statistically, Miers has been a consistent contributor over the past five years, averaging at least 1.5 score assists and 5.8 score involvements per game, marking him as one of the league’s notable half-forward threats inside the 50-meter arc. Essendon’s recruitment strategy signals a willingness to balance experienced talent with the development of its recently re-signed young star, Nate Caddy, as the club builds for the upcoming season.