The Greater Western Sydney Giants have scrubbed Jake Stringer and Conor Stone from their active list, a move described by the front office as a technicality of the league's bureaucracy. While the paperwork says they are gone, the club has signaled an intent to reclaim them in the upcoming AFL Draft. This seasonal ritual allows the team to shuffle numbers while keeping aging or developing legs in the shadows until the league’s calendar permits their return.
"This is a common process we need to follow… Both Conor and Jake fully understand and support the move." — Adrian Caruso, GWS Head of Talent.
| Player | 2025 Games | 2025 Goals | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Stringer | 15 | 25 | Delisted (To be Re-drafted) |
| Conor Stone | 7 | Delisted (To be Re-drafted) |
The move is a gamble on the structural gaps of the draft system. By delisting players they intend to keep, the Giants free up spots for picks 12, 35, 91, and 109. Stringer, now 31, managed 25 goals this year despite early hamstring tightness and a late start. His output—his second-best goal-per-game average in four seasons—suggests his utility has outlasted the skepticism that followed him from his former club.
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The Weight of Motivation
Stringer’s arrival at the Giants in late 2024 was preceded by heavy words from the Melbourne football press. Former players urged Essendon to "purge" him, citing a lack of chase and poor professionalism.
Traded for pick 53.
Lost weight upon arriving at GWS.
Produced 25 goals and 24 behinds in 15 games.
Brad Scott (Essendon Coach) noted that players often find a spark when they realize their career has a visible end.
The change of scenery was framed as a "win-win," though the Giants are the ones now maneuvering their roster to ensure the 31-year-old remains on the field for 2026.
The Routine of the Redraft
For Conor Stone, the path is more about potential than survival. Pick 15 in the 2020 draft, Stone has played only 20 games in five years. His delisting is a quiet admission of slow progress, yet the club maintains a "commitment" to his development. The Giants’ strategy relies on the hope that other teams will respect the "unspoken" rule of not poaching players who have been delisted with a promise of re-drafting.
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"Everyone knows at his best how good he actually is. I believe his best footy is in front of him." — Jesse Hogan, GWS Forward.
Context of the Exit
The skepticism surrounding Stringer isn't new. During his final days at Tullamarine, critics like David King suggested his presence was an obstacle to team standards. The "purge" rhetoric focused on a perceived lack of fitness. His 2025 season at GWS provided a counter-narrative of efficiency, though the recent delisting highlights how precarious a spot on the 2026 roster remains for a player of his age and history.