Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd says he’d tell Jake Stringer to “toughen up” amid reports he was upset after being called out by his coach after a poor performance.
Stringer was called out by Bombers coach Ben Rutten following Essendon’s loss to Carlton in round 13 after managing just nine disposals while being held goalless.
Speaking on Nine’s Footy Classified, The Age’s Caroline Wilson revealed that Stringer’s camp had been left miffed by Rutten’s public assessment of his star player.
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“There are reports that Jake Stringer and his camp were not happy being singled out by the coach a couple of weeks ago,” she said.
“Personally, I absolutely understood what Ben Rutten was doing. It’s really surprising that anyone involved in the handling of Jake Stringer would not think he deserved a bit of a bake.”
Wilson’s sentiment was backed up by Lloyd, who praised Rutten for his tough messaging towards his star man.
“I suppose you’ve got to know your players … but I’m with you though, Caro,” Lloyd said in response to Wilson’s report.
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“I’d say, ‘harden up, toughen up, I’ve gone this way because I feel you need to hear it and let’s see what you’re made of’.
“If he wants to drag his bottom lip, well then Ben’s maybe got to make an even tougher decision on Jake.”
Stringer is in the first year of a three-year contract extension he signed with the Bombers mid-way through a career-best season in 2021.