Tyson Stengle has re-emerged inside Geelong’s inner sanctum after weeks of alarming silence, amid fears of an extortion plot and serious off-field turmoil.
Mitch Cleary revealed Stengle was present in the rooms following Geelong’s clash with Port Adelaide, offering a positive sign after weeks of uncertainty about his whereabouts and connection to the club.
‘Well he was in the rooms last night (for the match against Port Adelaide) which is a great sign, because there has been a lot of talk that he had maybe lost connection with the Geelong footy club,’ Cleary said.
The 27-year-old has not played at AFL level this season and remains sidelined under the league’s confidential ‘medical model’, a framework designed to support players dealing with personal or wellbeing-related issues while restricting their availability for selection.
Stengle has not featured since last year’s grand final and took leave from the club over the off-season as he worked through a personal matter. Since returning, his involvement has been limited, with reports suggesting only sporadic contact with the club and inconsistent appearances at training.
Cleary provided further detail on Stengle’s recent movements, confirming the small forward has spent significant time away from Victoria.
Tyson Stengle (pictured right in the white cap) and his family were in the Geelong sheds after their win over Port Adelaide
Reports revealed Stengle had been spending extended periods in South Australia dealing with a complex personal family situation
‘He has been spending extended periods in South Australia, you can see him here with the wife talking to Bailey Smith and then (coach) Chris Scott,’ he said.
Stengle’s absence has coincided with what has been described as a complex personal situation, with Cleary indicating family commitments have played a central role in his time away from football.
‘He’s been back in SA for a large chunk of the last six months with a young daughter that he’s working through a complex personal situation (with),’ he said.
Despite those encouraging signs, serious concerns remain about the circumstances surrounding the premiership star, with reports emerging last week that he may have been targeted in an alleged extortion plot.
According to News Corp, interstate figures are feared to have attempted to exploit Stengle’s situation, with claims ‘heavies’ had sought to take advantage of the forward during a vulnerable period.
The developments added a concerning layer to an already complex situation, particularly amid reports that Stengle had cut ties with some close contacts and figures within the club.
Geelong coach Chris Scott has previously declined to go into detail about the situation, stressing that responsibility for managing the matter sits with the AFL and those directly involved in player welfare.
‘It’s not my role to be across those things,’ Scott said earlier this week when asked about Stengle’s circumstances.
The AFL placed Stengle under its medical model, preventing him from playing while managing personal and wellbeing issues
Geelong figures hoped Stengle would return to training soon, though no clear timeline for his playing return is available
Despite the uncertainty, Stengle remains contracted long-term after signing a five-year extension in 2024 reportedly worth up to $3.5million, and is understood to still be receiving his full salary while away from playing duties.
His career has been marked by both challenges and remarkable highs. After previous off-field issues earlier in his career at Adelaide and Richmond, Stengle was given another opportunity at Geelong, where he produced one of the AFL’s great redemption stories.
He played a key role in the Cats’ 2022 premiership triumph and earned All-Australian honours that same season, cementing himself as one of the competition’s most dangerous small forwards.
Despite his limited involvement in recent months, there is growing hope within the club that Stengle could soon reintegrate into the football program in some capacity.
‘It is hoped that he is back at the club in a training sense in the next week or two,’ Cleary said.
However, any return to AFL action remains uncertain, with the final decision resting outside of Geelong’s direct control due to the AFL’s oversight of his situation.
‘There’s no timeline on when he returns to play. That rests with the AFL given the hoops he has to jump through after what we’ve seen him work through in the last 12-18 months,’ he said.
Stengle’s appearance around teammates and staff has nonetheless been viewed as an encouraging development after a period of silence and concern.
‘But a good sign, Tyson Stengle is back in the rooms and around the club,’ Cleary said.
