Opinion
The Cats gave Tyson Stengle a chance – it might be the last one he gets
Kane Cornes
AFL columnistTyson Stengle is at risk of wasting his third chance.
The Geelong small forward’s career, seemingly put on the path to stardom at Kardinia Park after failed attempts at Richmond and Adelaide, is now on the edge again.
Tyson Stengle had a day out against North Melbourne in Hobart on Saturday with three clever goals, but found himself in trouble by night’s end.Credit: Getty Images
It is at risk of being jeopardised by a troubling incident at a Geelong nightclub that continues the recurring theme that sent Stengle away from Adelaide – of bad choices or bad influences.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, the 25-year-old was admitted to the University Hospital Geelong in a serious condition. He was unresponsive and carried out of the Bloom nightclub by concerned friends.
Stengle should be facing serious scrutiny from his club considering his record of concerning off- field decisions. Geelong has made a long-term investment with the recent signing of a five-year contract extension after many other AFL clubs were believing the All-Australian had both his life and football in order.
Some club list managers would now be thinking they have dodged a problem.
Stengle was running laps at Kardinia Park on Monday when the Geelong hierarchy would have been wearing out the carpet in their football offices. The Adelaide Football Club was at this point at the end of 2021 when it cut Stengle fearing another moment like Sunday morning’s scare.
Geelong’s official line in response to the external scrutiny of Stengle was to emphasise that their priority is Stengle’s mental health and wellbeing.
But how many chances does a player get before the club and, more importantly, his teammates tire of such behavioural issues that create unnecessary distractions to a would-be challenging finals campaign?
Adelaide endured multiple incidents involving Stengle, including a guilty plea to drunk driving and possession of an illicit substance.
Everyone admired Stengle for refusing to give up on his AFL dream.
Impressively, Stengle turned his life around with the help of SANFL club Woodville West-Torrens, where he thrived in the club’s 2021 premiership-winning season, kicking 44 goals from 19 games.
The Eagles praised his hard work and dedication to resurrect his AFL career.
Geelong then swooped and signed Stengle as a delisted free agent at the end of 2021. This turned out to be another stroke of genius from the club’s renowned list management committee.
Eddie Betts played a positive influence on Tyson Stengle’s career, particularly when they both landed at Geelong for the 2022 season.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
The move to Geelong – where he was reunited with his mentor and former Crows teammate Eddie Betts, with whom he lived in Adelaide – was the catalyst for one of sport’s great redemption stories.
Stengle dominated in his first season for the Cats, kicking 53 goals and earning All-Australian honours.
He was an instrumental part of the Geelong premiership side and kicked four goals in the grand final win against Sydney.
Betts gave up his development coaching job at Geelong at the end of the flag-winning season, leaving Stengle without a trusted mentor at Kardinia Park, but his wife, Anna Scullie, has continued as Stengle’s manager.
With Betts no longer at the club, Stengle’s form slipped last season and Geelong missed the finals.
Entering a contract year is often a huge motivation for players.
The chase for a new deal at Geelong became more favourable to Stengle when rival clubs threw big money at him.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon reportedly met with Stengle, and the Saints tabled a massive long-term offer to pry him from Geelong.
Stengle turned his back on the St Kilda offer – and perhaps as much as $1 million in extra salary – to enjoy the comforts of Geelong with a five-year contract extension, believed to be worth at least $3.5 million.
Just one month after signing the contract, after the club had invested so much in Stengle both financially and in terms of trust, Geelong now faces the uneasy situation, with a key player carried out of a nightclub at 2.30am four games before finals.
Skipper Patrick Dangerfield grasped the consequences of Stengle’s big night out, saying: “We treat our players like adults, so they have every right to go out and enjoy themselves ... clearly, with that, you’ve got to do it responsibly, and there’s been a bit of an error in judgment around that. But we love Tys and we will always support him.”
Such support from his teammates is commendable, but it is not unconditional. And the club must be extremely disappointed and concerned.
Tyson Stengle signing autographs before Saturday’s game.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Clubs always take a calculated risk when they sign a player to a long-term contract.
Consciously or subconsciously, players know that they are financially secure regardless of their performance and output on the park.
It often leads to less commitment and hunger, and can lead to a drop in professionalism and performance.
For Stengle to put himself in a risky situation again after being gifted a third chance at an AFL career is perplexing and alarming.
For Geelong, it’s a case of “fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.”
The Cats should be on high alert and not thinking of sweeping this under the carpet, or it won’t be long before Stengle finds himself out of last chances.
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