AFL Grants Mental Health Leave to Tyson Stengle and Bobby Hill

GEELONG: The grueling demands of an AFL pre-season are usually defined by “yo-yo” tests and skinfold checks, but the early weeks of 2026 are highlighting a different priority: the person behind the player.

On Monday night, Geelong announced that premiership forward Tyson Stengle would be given additional time away from the club to manage personal issues. He joins Collingwood’s Bobby Hill in taking a step back from the oval this January, signaling a growing trend of clubs prioritizing mental and personal health over early-season mileage.

For Tyson Stengle, Geelong has long been a place of sanctuary. After his career was left in the balance following a delisting at Adelaide, the Cats provided the structure that allowed him to flourish into an All-Australian talent and a premiership hero in 2022.

The club’s decision to grant him extended leave—which began in December—reflects the modern AFL’s “person-first” coaching philosophy. “Tyson’s welfare is our priority,” noted Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie. It’s a clear message that even a player signed to a five-year deal is not immune to the pressures of life outside of football.

Stengle’s career is one of the league’s most celebrated redemption stories. His transformation from a delisted talent in the SANFL to a 2022 All-Australian became the blueprint for how clubs can successfully support “recycled” players. Having committed his long-term future to the Cats through 2029, the club is now returning that loyalty by ensuring he returns to the field only when he is ready.

The timing of Stengle’s leave is notable, coming just 72 hours after Collingwood star Bobby Hill was granted similar leave. As two of the competition’s most exciting small forwards, their absence from the training track is a significant talking point, but one that fans and commentators alike are viewing with increasing empathy.

As Geelong expects Stengle back in the “short-term,” the focus remains firmly on the human element of the game, proving that in 2026, the scoreboard is secondary to the player’s state of mind.