JAKE Stringer admits he lacked speed and power during the Western Bulldogs' heartbreaking elimination final loss to Adelaide, although the bullocking forward still doesn't know if he strained his hamstring.

Stringer clutched at the back of his left leg early in the first quarter after he snapped across his body for a behind.

The 21-year-old was worried he had suffered a hamstring injury, but still played 90 per cent of the match and booted two inspirational goals from 12 disposals.

"I went numb all through the back of my leg, so I wasn't sure what had happened. I still don't know what's happened – it's all right now, though," Stringer said at the AFL Players' Association MVP awards.

"I had never done one, so it was a bit of a weird feeling, I don't know whether I did it or not.

"I probably didn't have my speed back to my full speed or capabilities or my power, so it probably did hinder (me) a little bit, but I ended up playing out the game so it was all right."

Stringer was almost the hero midway through the final term when he unloaded a 50m bomb to put the Dogs ahead by eight points.

But the Crows answered with majors to Taylor Walker and Charlie Cameron to snatch a famous victory. 

Stringer said coach Luke Beveridge encouraged the young Bulldogs to embrace the pain of the narrow seven-point defeat as they aim to build on a fairytale finals appearance.

"Obviously it hurts, but we've had a pretty good season. No one really expected us to go as far as we did, so we've got to take the good with the bad," Stringer said.

"(Beveridge said) just to let it hurt for the time being, but also be proud of what we've achieved this year.

"It's something the boys can really work on for next year."

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Stringer's career-best campaign was a major driver of the Bulldogs' feel-good season, with the 192cm bull bagging 56 goals from 22 matches and earning selection in the 40-man All Australian squad for the first time.

Despite his success in attack, the Bendigo Pioneers product still harbours ambitions of playing more through midfield next season.

"We'll just see how we go through pre-season, you never know what can happen through pre-season," Stringer said. 

"It would be nice to spend a bit more time up there, though."