Second star in talks to leave mid-contract; Cats boss on Buckley’s future — AFL Daily

All-Australian forward Tyson Stengle and his management are reportedly in discussions with Geelong regarding a potential exit from the Cattery.

Separately, his coach Chris Scott has addressed Nathan Buckley’s failed pursuit of the Tasmania coaching job, as well as the assistant coach’s future at the club. Read on in AFL Daily.

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STENGLE REPORTEDLY IN TALKS WITH CATS REGARDING EXIT

Geelong forward Tyson Stengle and his management are reportedly in discussions regarding a potential exit from the club after four seasons at the Cattery.

AFL Media reported on Tuesday evening that the 175cm livewire’s time at the club is expected to come to an end as talks over a resolution progress, despite having three years left on his current contract.

Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson reports that Stengle is currently residing in his home state of South Australia.

Stengle has played 109 games at the top level across three clubs, having previously played for Richmond and Adelaide.

After time away from the club throughout the 2026 pre-season, the Portland product returned to Geelong before eventually playing VFL in June to collect 15 disposals and four goals.

However, Stengle was soon after allegedly spotted by witnesses at a nightclub mid-week. Two days later after being sighted, he failed to board a plane for a reserves match interstate.

He is is reportedly earning $750,000 this year, currently contracted through until the end in 2029.

‘NO SHAME IN THAT’: SCOTT ON BUCKS’ TASSIE FAIL, CATS FUTURE

Geelong coach Chris Scott has admitted Nathan Buckley’s public pursuit of the Tasmania job is “rare”, but added it speaks to his “security”.

Cats assistant Buckley, who’d been open and honest about his desire to coach the Devils, lost out to Ken Hinkley, who was unveiled as the club’s inaugural coach on Monday.

In a positive for Scott, Buckley could remain at Kardinia Park beyond this year, telling Fox Footy’s On the Couch he’s looking forward to getting back to business at Geelong.

Scott was asked multiple questions about Buckley missing out on the Tassie job, starting with what he thought about the Magpies great’s public approach.

“It’s a really interesting question - I tend to think it’s each to their own with these sorts of things,” he told reporters.

“I guess my very casual observation, without having thought about it that much, is it probably speaks to how secure he is in his ability and position in the game.

“It seems to me that it is quite rare a coach puts their hand up and says, ‘This is something I want, and I’m prepared to go through the process.

“He didn’t only go through the process; he went back to work, which obviously has been a real positive for us.”

Scott said that approach wouldn’t be common going forward, segwaying into why there was “no shame” in losing out to Hinkley.

“I suspect it won’t happen that much, so if you liked his way of going about it, make the most of it now - I don’t think you’ll see it too often,” he continued.

“And I kind of understand why, especially if you’re a younger coach. The last thing you want to do is be a part of a process where you put yourself on the line - especially if you do it a number of times - with the probability being that you’re going to miss out.

“And inevitably, the kind of perception could be, ‘Well, there must be a good reason why someone didn’t get the job’.

“When I think the reality is more likely you could actually be a fantastic candidate, you’re just not the right fit for that point in time.

“In that context, I am certain that negative perception won’t apply to ‘Bucks’.

“And I suspect if Tassie get the opportunity to talk publicly about him that they would say similar things to me - that he was an outstanding candidate and would have been a great Tasmanian coach; the fit just wasn’t as good as the other guy, who just happens to be someone who’s coached for 15 years in the AFL or thereabouts.

“Let’s say he ran second to Ken Hinkley - there’s no shame in that.”

Scott was also probed on whether he had mixed emotions about Buckley failing in his Tassie pursuit, given it meant he could continue on at the Cats.

“I think we still need to work through a little bit around what Bucks actually wants to do,” Scott said.

“We completely understood that there was a chance he might only be with us for one year, and this obviously massively increases the chances that he’ll be with us for two.

“But I’m not sure that he’s guaranteed that, but that’s certainly what we would like to happen.

“I came to terms with this (assistants leaving) a long time ago. If you find yourself hoping that you never lose people, you’re not creating a very good environment where people can aspire to (head-coaching roles).

“If guys have aspirations to do that, then we want to throw our total support behind them.”

STAR SUN DENIES DISHARMONY

Reigning Brownlow Medal winner Matt Rowell has denied reports that his Suns side are currently experiencing disharmony amid their horror eight-game losing streak.

Not since an eye-watering 19-game losing streak across 2019 and the very start of 2020 has Gold Coast endured so manny consecutive defeats, amplifying suspicion that the club isn’t entirely aligned.

However, speaking to media at training on Tuesday, the inside bull spoke conversely to the suggestion.

“I think there’s been a lot of noise around that, and I think there’s definitely not any disharmony,” Rowell said.

“We’re all in it together. (With) the position we’re in at the moment, there’s going to be some hard conversations; because we’re not where we want to be.

“Obviously we made finals last year. We want to be playing finals again this year, and currently at the moment in our season, we’re not where we want to be. So, there’s always going to be some hard conversations.”

Some reports have gone as far as saying that Rowell specifically, alongside captain and best mate Noah Anderson, had an imperfect relationship with head coach Damien Hardwick.

“I was just very surprised. There’s there’s no truth in in that,” Rowell responded.

“Me and Dimma, we’ve got a really good relationship. We’re very honest with each other. We had a chat about it after it all came out, and we were both as surprised as each other.

“We don’t read too much into that outside stuff. We stick together in all situations; whether we’re going well or, you know, whether we’re not where we want to be like at the moment.”

BOMBERS HUNTING BIG RIVAL NAME

Essendon has “sounded out” Brisbane football boss Danny Daly to boost its football department.

That’s according to Seven’s Mitch Cleary, who reports on Tuesday the Bombers view Daly as “a key person of interest to take on a beefed-up position”, while they also seek a new senior coach.

Dan McPherson is Essendon’s current head of football but doesn’t have a contract for next year, with Cleary adding he’s “yet to be guaranteed a future at Tullamarine” for 2027.

Daly is revered as one of the league’s brightest footy minds, having helped steer the Lions to back-to-back premierships.

The 60-year-old spent six seasons on Brisbane’s coaching panel before elevating to football boss in 2020, having also had stints at Collingwood, North Melbourne and Richmond.

He’s previously knocked back rival football departments in the past, whilst also having had his name surfaced as potential senior coach material.

‘DISRESPECTFUL, ARROGANT’: GREAT FIRES BACK AT GIANTS CHIEF’S TASSIE DIG

Outgoing Giants chief executive Dave Matthews has certainly caused a stir among the Tasmanian contingent.

Matthews over the weekend said Tasmania was “not a super attractive proposition” for players to join and the state was “a nice place to visit, but I don’t think it’s an unbelievable place to have a career and live.”

The comments came as GWS faces a battle to retain Tom Green, who’s out of contract next season and thought to be one of the Devils’ top targets.

New Tassie coach Ken Hinkley and Devils CEO Brendon Gale already hit back at Matthews’ remarks.

And Tigers champion and proud Tasmanian Jack Riewoldt also got riled up over it.

“Obviously I’m Tasmanian, but but I found these comments completely in poor taste,” Riewoldt said on Fox Footy’s On The Couch.

“I think they’re disrespectful, and I think they’re actually quite arrogant the comments that have been made by the outgoing CEO at the GWS Giants.

“The incoming (Giants) CEO (James Avery) is the ex-CEO of Stadiums Tasmania, a Tasmanian, and it feels like it’s a it’s a hand grenade that’s been lobbed into the GWS camp now that he will walk away from in the not too distant future and leave them to pick up the pieces of what is a pretty alarming comment.”

Hawthorn legend Jordan Lewis agreed it was a “really arrogant comment to make” and was surprised Matthews, as the CEO of an expansion club and former AFL head of game development, went there.

BOMBERS URGED TO MAKE ‘TOUGH DECISION’ ON SKIPPER

Essendon has been urged to make a “tough decision” and change captains from Andy McGrath to Sam Durham under its new coach for 2027.

Durham has been the AFL’s No. 13 rated player since Round 13 in a brilliant run of form despite the Bombers’ woes.

The 25-year-old was among Essendon’s best last Sunday to lead the team’s upset win over GWS, gathering 25 disposals (13 contested) with seven clearances.

It spurred Hawks great Jordan Lewis to suggest Durham should take over the captaincy from McGrath, who just replaced Zach Merrett in the role this season.

“The coach that comes in has got a difficult decision on who he thinks will be captain of this football club,” Lewis said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.

“I don’t think it’s a lay down misère that McGrath will be captain.

“The clear choice for me would be Durham. The way he played yesterday, the inspirational stuff he does on the field, the contest, the unwillingness to give up the ball.

“I just think from the outside looking in, and yes, I don’t know how he conducts himself inside the football club. But for me, if you want to change the identity of your football club and you want to get back to week in, week out, ‘gritty not pretty’, he is your man to lead this club forward.”

While removing McGrath after one year would be ruthless, Lewis says the Bombers need to make hard calls in the club’s best interests.

“You’ve got make tough decisions. They made what I thought was tough decisions with selection,” he added.

“Why would you go another one year, two years, maybe three years potentially and have a captain who is well liked and performs a role in defence, but not in and around the ball like Sam Durham?

“He is the one for me who is the obvious choice to lead this club forward.”

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