AFL trade news: Tyson Stengle granted permission for guardian to negotiate fresh deal as rivals circle

With rivals attempting to poach Geelong’s star forward Tyson Stengle, the premiership Cat has turned to the partner of an AFL legend to get a new deal done.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 24: Geelong Assistant Eddie Betts and Tyson Stengle of the Cats embrace after the 2022 AFL Grand Final match between the Geelong Cats and the Sydney Swans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 24, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Geelong unrestricted free agent Tyson Stengle has been granted special AFL permission for his guardian, Anna Scullie, to negotiate a new long-term deal as rivals attempt to lure him away from the Cats.

Scullie has managed the affairs of her husband, Eddie Betts, for the past eight years as well as running the family business, but is not an official AFL accredited agent.

She told this masthead on Monday that after a recent report labelling her a “pseudo manager”, any inference she lacked expertise was well off the mark.

Scullie negotiated Stengle’s one-year extension last season ahead of an injury-hit 2023 and it has put him in prime position to win a lucrative long-term contract as an unrestricted free agent.

Scullie told this masthead it would be “ideal” for Stengle to stay but it is understood rival clubs are asking whether the talented 2022 All Australian is open to offers.

Eddie Betts and Anna Scullie. Picture Mark Brake

The 25-year-old is so far in no hurry to lock away a new deal after a hot start to the year with 14.5 in eight games.

It is unusual for family members to negotiate on their family’s behalf but not unprecedented, with Mark Blicavs’ father Andris doing his deals and Jordan De Goey’s brother in law Ryan Vague managing his affairs as an accredited agent.

Scullie said Stengle’s unique family situation had put her in a position to ask the AFL for permission to manage his affairs despite the lack of AFL accreditation as a player agent.

Stengle endured a traumatic family upbringing that saw him living with relatives rather than his mother and father from a young age.

While he and relative Betts only played together for a season at Adelaide, the AFL legend is a close mentor who hosts Stengle several nights a week at the family’s Melbourne home.

Eddie Betts and Tyson Stengle after the 2022 Grand Final. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

“When we did his last extension we got special approval from the AFL,” Scullie said on Monday.

“It is a case-by-case basis but they gave me authority over his contract. I have been really quiet about the work I do but I have managed Eddie and built his brand over eight years and run the family business.

“I negotiate deals day-in and day-out with our business and have the knowledge of being in the AFL industry with Eddie over the last 16 years.

“We work as a team and I don’t have a conflict of interest. I just work for Tyson. I don’t have other players, I just care 100 per cent about Tyson and his needs.

“I was labelled as Eddie Betts’ wife and people might be intrigued but I have the knowledge and experience and have those conversations with clubs all the time given Eddie and I are talking about indigenous pathways into footy. I represent Eddie with Fox Footy and manage his Coles partnership.”

Geelong is confident Stengle wants to stay at the club but, given he is only 25, players of his talent could secure more than $800,000 a year after his 53-goal 2022 season.

“It would be ideal if he stays there. He is playing good footy with the team around him. We will likely go for a long-term deal. But we have to take into consideration that Geelong can be isolating. If Geelong is where he stays it is a perfect place and it’s a great culture and he’s really well supported on the field. He is playing good footy so we will just see.”