AFL 2024: In-form Geelong free agent Tyson Stengle says it is preference to remain at the Cats

Tyson Stengle is replicating the form of his 2022 breakout season while out of contract. The lively small forward on where things sit and how he has returned to his best.

Tyson Stengle celebrates a goal. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Eligible free agent Tyson Stengle said a clean run with injury has helped him recapture the form of his breakout 2022 season as he revealed it is preference to remain at Geelong.

Stengle enters Geelong’s Sir Doug Nicholls round clash against Gold Coast in superb form, booting 18 goals from nine matches – including four goals in their loss to Port Adelaide – and ranking ninth in the competition for goal assists.

After kicking 53 goals in Geelong’s premiership campaign in his first season with Geelong, the lively forward managed just 27 goals across 19 games last year.

He said the drop-off was down to an interrupted pre-season and a broken arm in round five, which saw him miss four matches.

Tyson Stengle has started the season with a bang. Picture: Michael Klein

“Obviously 2023 I started off the pre-season a little bit injured, came into the season a bit under done. And then broke my arm so it was a pretty tough year,” Stengle said.

“So this year I started off the year well, I don’t think much changed. I’ve got more training into myself and didn’t get injured so far this year, touch wood.”

Stengle’s hot start to 2024 has come at a good time for the 25-year-old given he is out of contract at the end of the year and qualifies as an unrestricted free agent, because he was previously delisted by his former club Adelaide.

The Woodville-West Torrens product has let his footy do the talking while his guardian Anna Scullie – the wife of AFL great and mentor Eddie Betts – sorts out his next contract.

Asked if he would prefer to stay at the Cats in an ideal world, Stengle told this publication: “The Cats have been amazing for me. Yeah that’s preference but things play out, but I’m not really worried about what is going to be going on with that so far. I’m just focusing on my on-field footy and just performing on-field and let my manager sort that stuff out.”

Geelong could be without Jeremy Cameron and Tom Hawkins for their trip to Darwin. Cameron is ruled out with concussion and Cats coach Chris Scott said on Friday night, before Cameron’s delayed concussion diagnosis, that Hawkins would be rested for round 10.

But Stengle isn’t concerned.

“We’ve got some young players coming through so got full belief in them to come up and be competitive at the level so I don’t think there is much stress,” Stengle said.

“We’ve got a good forward line group, so not much pressure. We play our roles so hopefully we figure it out and share it around.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: In-form Geelong free agent Tyson Stengle says it is preference to remain at the Cats