Circling clubs reportedly believe Geelong free agent Tyson Stengle is gettable this off-season, with the small forward set to weigh up whether to remain at Kardinia Park or join the fourth club of his AFL career.
Having been delisted in the past, Stengle is eligible for free agency in just his third season with the Cats and at the age of 25, while he does not fall under a restricted band and can walk to a rival club without any say from Geelong.
Following a sensation opening season in the hoops that saw him secure a premiership medal and All-Australian honours, Stengle signed just a one-year deal in February last year despite his meteoric rise after being outcasted by the Crows.
Yet to extend his services beyond 2024, Stengle has garnered reported interest from Victorian rivals St Kilda and Essendon this season, given his status as a free agent and cunning traits as a small forward asset.
While still likely to remain at Geelong, clubs keen to move for the Woodville-West Torrens product are said to view his signature as attainable, per News Corp.
Stengle has returned to form this season after a down year in 2023, booting 27 goals - the same tally as his last campaign - from 13 games so far. The South Australian is on track to get close to his career-high haul of 53 goals he kicked in Geelong's premiership season and his first with the club.
The livewire attacker has proven to be a bargain recruit for the Cats, who plucked Stengle from the SANFL less than a year on from when Adelaide delisted him due to a series of off-field indiscretions.
While the ex-Tiger and Crow could look to repay the Cats and put pen to paper on a new deal with Geelong, bigger offers from keen rivals could lure Stengle from the Pivot City.
Stengle is one of many Cats players eligible for free agency this year, with premiership players Patrick Dangerfield, Jed Bews, Mitch Duncan, Tom Hawkins, Jack Henry,ย Jake Kolodjashnij, Brandan Parfitt, Rhys Stanley, Zach Tuohy and recruit Emerson Jeka all falling under the free agency tag and yet to re-sign at the Cattery.
Alongside Henry and captain Dangerfield, Stengle looms as one of the club's key retention targets in 2024.
The club has managed to lock Max Holmes, Jhye Clark, Zach Guthrie, Mark O'Connor and Oisin Mullin to new deals already this year, while midfielder Tanner Burhn added two years to his deal this week to now be locked in until the end of 2027.
