BENDIGO teenager Jake Stringer has come a long way since his unlucky break during a TAC Cup football match in April.Six months after the promising footballer’s horrific injury, in which he broke both bones in his left leg, the 17-year-old is back on track to achieve his AFL dream.There was speculation of Stringer’s dream being closer than expected, with talk of new AFL franchise Greater Western Sydney considering the teenager for the mini draft.Although that deal did not eventuate for the young gun, Stringer said he was focused on achieving his AFL goal in a year’s time.“I definitely have the goal of being drafted,” he said.“My main goal for this year was to go this year, but with my leg I knew it would be tough.“Clubs weren’t going to take the gamble without knowing if I could still play football at the same level.“I didn’t think anything of it and I am more concerned with getting myself right for next year.”Instead of sitting out while recovering from his leg injury, Stringer stepped up his training while he was off the field to ensure he would not fall behind in fitness and mental preparation.The teenager worked with personal trainer Darren Clarke for several months during his recovery and believes he is now in peak physical condition.“The first two weeks were the hardest because I couldn’t do anything, but then Darren Clarke contacted me,” he said.“I went to footy training the first night and he asked me how my leg was, and then offered to start me up with some boxing.“So two weeks in, I still had the stitches in, I sat up on a bench and started doing some boxing.“I’ve been going and doing that for six months now and I’m at the fittest stage I’ve been in my career.”Stringer will also take part in the AFL-AIS Academy program this year, which began at the start of this month.“The AIS finishes in about April, which means it’s just starting up again now.“I’ve already had my first camp, which was AFL grand final week.”The AIS program assisted the young player in making the right decisions about his comeback to football.“I pushed myself and worked to the limits and I think I got to the stage where I could have played, but I would have only played at about 75 per cent, but felt like I could still do something,” he said about his effort to return to football.“In the end I had a discussion with Michael O’Loughlin at the AIS and he told me there was no point, so we just went back to what we were doing without worrying about trying to play.“I think that was the right decision because when I come back I want to be at my best.”Stringer will return to the field with the Bendigo Bank Pioneers in next year’s TAC Cup matches.The skilful footballer said he was confident 2012 would be his year on field and he would strive to be drafted for the 2013 AFL season.“When it comes to strength, mental and fitness, I’ve just improved so much during this year. We’ll have to wait and see what happens next year but getting drafted is the ultimate goal.”Stringer tipped that Jordan Collins and Jacob Greenwood would be strong chances to be drafted in years to come.