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PROMINENT player agent Paul Connors has slammed the Western Bulldogs for their "total backflip" in the situation surrounding out-of-favour premiership player Jake Stringer.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge came out publicly last month to say Stringer leaving would benefit his teammates.
However, they are demanding a high price for Stringer and have declared they might keep the 23-year-old if an appropriate deal can't be reached.
Stringer is contracted until the end of 2018, with Essendon his most ardent suitor.
Connors told Melbourne radio station SEN on Tuesday he and colleague Robbie D'Orazio, who manages Stringer, would change tack for similar situations in the future.
"It's one of the things I'll be doing a bit differently myself, with Robbie, that we'll be asking more questions when we get called to meetings like this in the future, because it's a total backflip for mine," Connors said.
Stringer received no indication at his exit meeting that he would be moved on. Instead, a phone call a couple of weeks later from his management made him aware of the proposed move.
"That's a bit frustrating from our point of view, and I'm experiencing it with another trade, but all of a sudden clubs are publicly wanting to put our players and any player on the market, and then they go 'Oh hang on, we actually want pick 10 for this player or pick 20' but there's a caveat on it," Connors said.
Connors concedes any deal could still be some time away.
"Western Bulldogs have got their view and Essendon and whoever else is in the mix and us have got our views, and at this stage it's fair to say we're a bit apart," Connors said.
Connors counts Jack Watts among his clients, who is contracted until the end of 2019 but has been encouraged to explore his options by Melbourne.
Watts toured Geelong on Tuesday in his bid to find a new home.
Connors said if Watts received more praise from his coaches, rather than having them focus on his negatives, the 26-year-old could thrive.
"It'd be nice if people focused on some of the things he did well. We're happy to focus on some of the things he doesn't do well, but let's be careful not to throw it all out as well," Connors said.
A decision from Watts on where he wants to play next year is expected by the end of this week.
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