Geelong coach Chris Scott says those wanting more information on why Tyson Stengle is yet to take the field in 2026 “probably should direct their questions to the AFL”.
Speculation about Stengle’s situation was the subject of a Tuesday night television discussion and comes after an interrupted pre-season, during which the All-Australian small forward was granted extended personal leave.
When asked whether he was comfortable with the situation being overseen by the AFL, Scott labelled his thoughts “irrelevant”.
“I’m going to sort of withhold my personal view on that,” he said. “I’m just dealing with the facts as they stand, and I’m just not across it.
“Now, whether that’s right or wrong is a separate conversation, but I’m not across it, so I wouldn’t speculate.”
“But again, I’ll probably repeat some of the comments that I’ve made over the last, let’s call it, the last six weeks.
“I’ve loved what I’ve seen from him at training. When we see him out on the training track, we feel like, ‘OK, we’d like to get this guy into our team as soon as practical’.
“So I don’t resile from those comments.”
However, Scott wouldn’t elaborate when asked if Stengle’s on-field absence was out of Geelong’s hands.
“I think it’s your prerogative, if not your responsibility, to make some assumptions, but it’s not mine,” he said.
“So I’m not going to… fuel those assumptions or give you any certainty either way.
“Because, I guess the main reason is I just don’t think it would be accurate.
“Whenever I say things that I later regret, more often than not, it’s because I’ve speculated on things that are uncertain.
“So I shouldn’t do it in this instance.”
When questioned about the vague timeline on Stengle’s return, who the Cats had hoped earlier this month would play in the VFL match against Footscray last week, Scott said: “That’s the way the AFL want it.
“And so we need to submit to their processes.”
Scott also wouldn’t be drawn on whether his training attendance had been inconsistent.
“I’m tempted to say it’s none of your business,” he said.
“Speaking on his behalf, that’s probably the position I’d take. We don’t walk you through the training programs of our players.
“Everyone’s on an individual program, and he’s no different.”
More to come
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