JAKE Stringer has encouraged his club Essendon to get back into the trade market despite the "debacle" of his own switch last season.

The Bombers eventually prised Stringer from the Western Bulldogs in the last two hours of the 2017 NAB AFL Trade Period window after weeks of talks.

He joined Essendon along with Devon Smith and Adam Saad, moves seen as a boon for the Bombers despite a fall outside of the top eight in 2018.

To climb back into the finals, Stringer believes moves for players of the class of reported target Dylan Shiel will be key.

"I certainly wouldn't complain leading out to that," the forward said of the GWS midfielder.

"If anyone of his calibre was to think about coming here it would be wonderful for the club.

"No matter who it is, I'm sure we'll explore every option possible."

Shiel is contracted for the 2019 season at GWS but has repeatedly been linked with a switch back to his home state.

Questions about the forthcoming trade window brought last year's dramatic switch to mind.

Stringer said his move was "a bit of a debacle and it boiled on from there" but his first season as a Bomber should be seen as a success.

The 24-year-old spent much of the first two months of the season in midfield, a period that saw Essendon win just two of its first eight matches.

Restored to a traditional forward role, Stringer has tallied 30 goals from his first 19 matches in red and black.

With key forward Joe Daniher sidelined for much of the season, Stringer will win a fourth-straight club leading goalkicker award.

"It's been an interesting ride ... but it's been a good year," he said.

Stringer handed over a $29,000 cheque to cancer charity Challenge on Thursday, the product of a club fundraising drive.

The 2016 flag winner said his two young girls, Arlo and Milla, inspired him to visit hospital wards each week.

"To sign a few autographs and put a smile on their kids' faces ... that's why I do it," he said.