Industry sources familiar with contract negotiations said the Saints are moving toward securing Stringer, who was delisted at the end of the 2026 season. The strong-bodied forward kicked 440 goals from 250 matches across three clubs — the Western Bulldogs, Essendon and the Giants over the past two seasons. Known to commentators as “The Package”, Stringer would add much-needed firepower to a St Kilda side that finished 11th in 2026 without injured spearhead Max King and with Liam Ryan their leading goalkicker on 33 goals.
Stringer said late in the season, as he prepared for his final game as a Giant, that he was comfortable with the club’s decision not to renew his contract. He admitted the timing was right for him — he wanted to spend more time with his daughters in Melbourne — and for the club, which was developing a new crop of young forwards. “I definitely feel like I have quite a few years left,” he said.
The Saints were relatively quiet in the trade period after a busy 2025 when they recruited Tom De Koning, Jack Silvagni, Liam Ryan and Sam Flanders. This year they brought in Sam Marshall from the Brisbane Lions and sent Rowan Marshall to Geelong. They hold picks 10 and 16 in the coming national draft and are hoping for previous top-10 picks Tobie Travaglia and Alix Tauru to become regular senior players in 2027. The next delisted free agency period opens in the first week of November.