It is hard to fathom that less than four years ago, Tyson Stengle was running around for Woodville West Torrens Eagles in the South Australian National Football League.
Fast forward to today, Stengle is widely regarded as one of the competition’s best small forwards, becoming an AFL premiership player and an All-Australian in his first three years at Geelong.
Since joining the Cats as a free agent at the end of 2021, the crafty small forward has played 83 of a possible 87 games, kicking 146 goals and dishing off 59 goal assists to be a dominant force inside forward 50.
The importance of Stengle was clearly evident in the Cats last home game against Gold Coast, where he kicked four goals in difficult conditions on a day where no other player booted more than one major.
Ahead of his 100th AFL game on Friday night, Cameron Ling and Meg McDonald discussed Stengle's milestone on this week's episode of Geelong Cats podcast, 'To the Final Bell.'
"Part of a forward line, a very exciting forward line right now that features another milestone man who is in great form, Tyson Stengle," Ling said.
"A very different journey to the Cats and one where he was given a second and third chance, but he also grabbed that chance and had made the most of it. It really feels like he has made Geelong his home and loves being part of this club, and has rewarded the initial faith that was shown in him.
"Obviously his first season was simply unbelievable, an All-Australian and a Premiership straight away but he has continued to hold that form.
"Not just going oh yeah that was great, I have played some good footy and now whatever, he is still one of the most important players in the competition."
Tyson Stengle’s AFL journey commenced in 2017, when he was selected by Richmond in the AFL rookie draft.
Across the next two seasons he became a staple of the Tigers VFL side, earning his AFL debut in Round 15 of the 2017 season, but only managing two games at the top level during his time at Punt Road.
At the end of 2018 a new opportunity came knocking, Stengle concluded his time with Richmond and was traded to Adelaide in exchange for a fourth round draft selection.
After playing another two AFL games in 2019, Stengle then found more consistent opportunities in 2020 making 12 appearances for the Crows, showcasing plenty of his potential.
Prior to the start of the 2021 season, Stengle and Adelaide came to a mutual agreement to part ways, the talented forward returning to the SANFL for a season before the next chapter of his AFL career unfolded.
Geelong signed Stengle at the end of 2021 and it paid immediate dividends, with the crafty Cat going on to play every game in 2022 and kicking 53 goals, ultimately awarded his first All-Australian blazer to cap off an incredible career resurgence.
But that season had more in store for the star forward as he played an integral role in Geelong’s 2022 premiership, kicking three goals in the Preliminary Final against Brisbane and four majors in the Grand Final.
Stengle continues to have a strong impact in the Cats line-up, signing a five year contract extension last season which will see him stay at Geelong until at least 2029.
"I love the fact that he wants the ball, he wants to kick goals and that is what good small forwards do," Ling said.
"But you can also see at times the selflessness of his play and the way he is able to work in with Brad Close, Gryan Miers, Shaun Mannagh and obviously the talls as well.
"He gets as much joy in dishing off a goal to someone else or if someone through hard work eventually gets a goal, Tyson is straight over there to celebrate with him.
"I think there is an enjoyment factor in Tyson seeing others succeed as well, which is not always a common trait of small forwards across history."
