CATS FLAG LONG-TERM DEAL FOR STENGLE
He is a great young person and like Sam (De Koning), he is a player we are glad to have and hope to have in the future. - Andrew Mackie
GEELONG is open to a long-term contract extension for breakout small forward Tyson Stengle as the Cats continue to work on their two key resignings.
Both Stengle and brilliant defender Sam De Koning come out of contract at the end of 2023 and will be priority signings for the Cats next year.
Added by Geelong before the 2022 season after failed stints with Richmond and Adelaide, Stengle exceeded all expectations with an incredible campaign, in which he kicked 53 goals and earned All-Australian honours as the Cats won the flag.
The Cats are confident off-field indiscretions are behind Stengle and list boss Andrew Mackie said the club was happy to talk longer-term deals for the 24-year-old.
“We will be open to whatever we think is the right thing by Tyson,” Mackie said. “He obviously had an amazing year last year and I’m looking forward to what 2023 brings.
“I’ll keep working with Eddie Betts and Anna Scullie on Tyson. He is a great young person and like Sam (De Koning), he is a player we are glad to have and hope to have in the future.”
As a 21-year-old who shut down the best forwards in the league this year, De Koning is sure to receive a hefty pay rise in his next contract.
Given his 204cm frame and ability to play across the field, there are few better key position prospects in the league and the Cats are working on a deal to lock away De Koning until the end of 2025.
“There have been discussions for a long time and clearly he is a player that we want to keep for the future and it’s all in a good spot,” Mackie said. “Sam loves it playing here and he has a great bunch of teammates around him and he is really growing not only on the field but he is having a real presence off it.”
De Koning was one of the leaders among the group of young Cats who returned to training on Monday, with the senior core of the club set to begin pre-season next week.