AFL 2024: Geelong star Tyson Stengle on studying to help Indigenous kids and support of Eddie Betts and his wife

Tyson Stengle has endured a difficult upbringing. Now, the Cats livewire is striving to create change for others. Plus, he sheds light on why the wife of Eddie Betts is handling his contract.

Tyson ahead of Sir Doug Nicholls Round. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Tyson Stengle’s own difficult upbringing has motivated him to help other Indigenous youths in similar circumstances.

The Geelong livewire was removed from his parents’ care when he was just four and taken in by his grandmother, Debra.

After her passing, he and his siblings were raised by his grandparents on the other side of his family, Emily and Cecil Betts.

With his football career under control after Geelong handed him a free agency lifeline at the end of 2021, the 25-year-old is undergoing a Certificate 4 in Sport Development.

The end goal for the Wirangu and Ngarrindjeri man is to work with young First Nations people in need.

Tyson Stengle is motivated to help young Indigenous children. Picture: Michael Klein

“Obviously growing up it’s been a tough childhood. But yeah, this inspires me to inspire others Indigenous kids that they can do it as well,” Stengle said.

“I got into this course where it can help me out getting into Indigenous programs and business footy programs and stuff. So hopefully once I finish that I can do that maybe off field but maybe even after footy so, I am looking forward to that.

“Hopefully I can get it done and hopefully, down the track, maybe on days off and stuff I can work with Indigenous children or after footy. So that’s the main reason.”

Geelong Indigenous player development manager Brett Goodes, a former Western Bulldogs player and the younger brother of Sydney legend and anti-racism trailblazer Adam, has been a great support for Stengle in his educational pursuits and his overall life.

“He has been great, helping me out off-field with studies, trying to get me into studies,” Stengle said.

“Talk to him around the club, somebody to talk to when you want to talk to somebody, somebody to hang out with, he has just been great us Indigenous boys down there. It is nice to have him down there.”

While Goodes is relatively new in Stengle’s life, AFL great Eddie Betts and his wife Anna Scullie have continued to be a strong presence since Betts left the Cats at the end of 2022.

And Stengle’s trust in Scullie is so significant that he has allowed her to be in control of his contract, with the small forward an eligible free agent at the end of the season.

As this publication reported this month, Scullie has been granted special permission to negotiate a new deal, despite not being an accredited agent, due to Stengle’s unique circumstances.

Eddie Betts with Tyson Stengle after the 2022 grand final. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“Well, sort of left my old management, I wasn’t really interested in getting a manager so she just started doing my contract as a guardian,” Stengle explained.

“She does it from a caring side up, and more than that, she just wants the best for me. So it’s great to have my manager sorting out all my contracts stuff.

“She has done a lot. She’s always been there since day one, since when I first made the move back from Melbourne to Crows. She’s been there since then.

“They support me through off-field and on-field and she has been wonderful, I appreciate her so much for everything that she has done for me on both sides, on-field and off-field. So she’s been one of the rocks so far.”

Stengle keeps in regular contact with Betts and Scullie and even heads down to watch their kids play footy every so often.

He said their support and Betts’ advice helped him overcome an injury-interrupted 2023 campaign, bouncing back to his breakout 2022 form with 18 goals in nine games this season.

“Always speaking to them over the phone, always checking in. They’ve been really good, appreciate what they have done so far my career up to now. It’s been wonderful from them,” Stengle said.

“He (Eddie) knows the footy I can play but obviously the main thing is he supports and he still believes in me, him and his wife. Give me that support around me, which helps me perform out on the field as well.”

Stengle is passionate about his Indigenous heritage and he is eager to face the Gold Coast in Darwin on Thursday night in Geelong’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round guernsey, designed by Keerray Woorroong and Yorta Yorta woman Sherry Johnston.

“It means a lot to me. My people from down in Ceduna, down in Corong Creek there, so a great couple of weeks to represent them and all Indigenous people and communities around Australia,” Stengle said.

“Look forward to the next two weeks and look forward to making all them Indigenous people and Torres Strait people proud.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: Geelong star Tyson Stengle on studying to help Indigenous kids and support of Eddie Betts and his wife