Geelong’s Tyson Stengle Misses VFL Flight, AFL Return in Doubt

Geelong forward Tyson Stengle missed a VFL team flight to Southport, further delaying his AFL return after personal issues sidelined him for most of the season.

The Oz Post 23/06/2026 09:05

Geelong’s Tyson Stengle Misses VFL Flight, AFL Return in Doubt — Tyson Stengle Misses VFL Flight, AFL Return Uncertain

Geelong forward Tyson Stengle has suffered a major setback in his bid to return to AFL football after missing a flight with the Cats’ VFL team on Friday.

Missed Flight Incident

Gun 7NEWS sports reporter Xander McGuire has revealed that Stengle was scheduled to travel with the team to play against Southport on Saturday, however, he was nowhere to be seen when the flight was about to take off, prompting airline staff to page his name over the airport speakers.

7NEWS has been alerted by multiple eyewitnesses who allege Stengle was at Electric Nightclub in Geelong on Wednesday evening, just 36 hours before the missed flight, following the State of Origin match at the MCG.

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Another Blow for Stengle

The incident represents another blow for the troubled forward, who has already missed the majority of the season due to personal issues. Stengle had played his first VFL game just a couple of weeks ago, with Geelong hoping he would return to senior football within a 4-6 week timeframe.

Impact on AFL Return

The missed flight now makes that comeback timeline extremely difficult to achieve, casting further doubt over when the forward will return to the AFL.

More to come ...