Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020

Tyson Stengle missed flight reports have placed the Geelong Cats forward’s AFL return under fresh doubt after he failed to travel with the club’s VFL team for Saturday’s match against Southport Sharks.

Stengle was expected to fly with the team on Friday, but 7NEWS reporter Xander McGuire said he was not present when the flight was due to leave. The incident matters because Geelong Football Club had hoped the 2022 All-Australian forward could return to senior football within four to six weeks after personal issues kept him out for much of the season.

For more AFL injury and selection news, read Reuben Ginbey Injury Timeline Leaves West Coast Eagles Defender In Race To Return, while official fixture information is available through the Australian Football League website.

Stengle Comeback Hit By Setback

7NEWS reported that airline staff paged Stengle’s name over the airport speakers before the missed flight.

Multiple eyewitnesses also alleged Stengle had been at Electric Nightclub in Geelong on Wednesday night after the State of Origin match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Geelong Football Club have a bye this weekend, but the missed trip has created fresh questions around his playing future.

Stengle had returned through the VFL only a couple of weeks ago and kicked four goals last week. That performance had raised hope that his AFL comeback was moving in the right direction.

Cornes Calls Situation A Crisis

Kane Cornes said the situation was deeply concerning given the support Geelong Football Club had provided.

“To be out in such a public place, 36 hours before the time he’s supposed to be on a flight to go and play and get his career back on track, and to be seen there, I’m assuming, at interesting hours of the night, and then to miss the flight, after everything that Geelong has done for him to get him back on track, the contract that they’ve given him, the money that he earns, that he’s still getting, this is a major slap in the face from him to them,” Cornes said on The Agenda Setters.

Tom Morris said the club’s response may be difficult to settle quickly.

“Maybe the response is so nuanced and so difficult, potentially cutting a contract of a player that was an All-Australian four years ago, it is so complicated that they actually can’t formulate it right now,” Morris said.