Former North Melbourne youngster Tarryn Thomas might be able to live out his lifelong dream of playing AFL football, again.
Reports have indicated that Geelong, who have a knack for successfully recruiting players from unique situations, are keeping a close eye on Thomas.
The 24-year-old is currently serving an 18-match suspension handed down by the AFL for multiple off-field indiscretions, which led the Kangaroos to show him the door.
Former player and GM of Football at the Cattery Andrew Mackie didn't rule a line through Thomas and noted the "Tyson Stengle story" as validation for their open-mindedness.
“As far as looking at the available talent (goes), at times, if you want to be in the market for players that are really talented and have that (desired) skillset, often if they become available to you it means that something has been a little bit bumpy for them along the way,” Mackie said on SEN.
“The (Tyson) Stengle story is much known. We (assess on an) individual case-by-case basis, we do a lot of work on a lot of players, and we look at the positives and what their footy skillset can be to us and then we work backwards from there.”
Stengle was initially drafted by Richmond in 2017 before being traded to Adelaide two years later.
After another couple of seasons, the Crows were forced to offload the small forward following off-field errors, including drunk driving and being found in possession of an illicit substance.
Ahead of the 2021 season, Stengle returned to SANFL club Woodville West Torrens Eagles where he played a major role in their back-to-back premierships, underpinning a potential return to the elite level.
Geelong, like they've done many times before, saw the potential of the ex-Tiger and signed him as a delisted free agent before the 2022 season.
Receiving a lifeline, Stengle didn't waste his third opportunity in the AFL, taking it with both hands.
The 25-year-old cemented his spot in the side, playing all 22 games of the home and away season and kicking 46 goals, finishing 12th in the Coleman Medal and earning selection as a forward pocket in the 2022 All-Australian team, followed by a part in Geelong's 2022 premiership team.