While plenty of the limelight went to the big disposal winners on Sunday night, Tyson Stengle was comfortably one of the most important players on the ground as he put together a terrific performance against West Coast. 

Looking a class above with his clean skills and elite ball use, the crafty Cat booted two goals and collected 18 disposals, while also dishing off three goal assists to have a significant influence inside forward 50. 

An underrated aspect of Stengle's game this year has been his forward pressure, leading the AFL for tackles inside 50 with 26, five tackles clear of the next best player in the competition. 

Stengle joined Cats Media post game to talk through Geelong's important win over the West Coast Eagles. 

"We had a feeling coming into the game that they will put up a great effort all the way towards the end," Stengle said. 

"We knew that it might take the whole game to break them, so we tried to stick at it and we were fortunate enough to break it open at the end. 

"We worked on it a lot at training, speaking with coaches and then the boys put it all together out there on the park. Keeping our composure and not getting too frenetic out there, sticking to the footy we know we can play.

"Then towards the end we were lucky enough to pile on some goals which was good."

While his impact on the scoreboard has not been quite as significant as last year, Stengle has now kicked multiple goals on six occasions this year, sitting fourth at Geelong for total goals in 2025. 

But as his role expands and develops the 26 year old continues to stamp his authority on games in other ways, averaging a career high in tackles and goal assists so far this year. 

Stengle's pressure in the front half has driven the Cats to greater heights, with Geelong averaging a league-high 14.9 tackles inside forward 50 per game, well clear of the next best team in the AFL. 

Playing a mix of deep forward and also pushing up the ground at times, Stengle said his role has expanded this year and changes week to week. 

"I am getting into the game now, just getting up and down the ground with a mix of deep forward and up higher," Stengle told Cats Media. 

"I am getting a good balance there and distributing the ball inside forward 50.

"I was lucky enough to hit a couple of targets and they finished off a few goals."