Geelong coach Chris Scott has described Tyson Stengle's AFL achievements as a near-miracle, after the club and the premiership forward officially parted ways last week.
The 27-year-old did not play an AFL game this season, with his last appearance coming in Geelong's losing grand final last year.
Scott's tribute
"It's disappointing to see him finish, I'm not sugar-coating that bit," Scott told reporters on Wednesday. "But we should be more celebrating his contribution rather than mourning his finish."
Scott was reluctant to reveal details about Stengle's off-field issues, but praised his impact at the club.
"Tyson was an outstanding success for us," Scott said. "I would be invading his privacy if I spoke to some of the challenges that he has had through his life. But I think you can take it as read that for him to do what he did in the AFL system is so close to a miracle it's not funny."
Players admitting difficulty
Scott believed it should be more common for players to admit the demands of the AFL had become too great for them.
"He's not the first, he won't be the last, that it just all becomes too difficult," he said. "It's an incredibly challenging environment that we operate in. And so it should be, it's not for everyone. And I think we should be more comfortable when players say 'look, I just can't do this any more'. And my take on Tyson is that that's more the situation, that it all just became too difficult for him rather than any specific issue he had."
Complex situation
Scott described Stengle's situation as "a complex situation" and expressed gratitude for his time at the club.
"For him to do what he did at our footy club is something that we will forever be grateful for," he said. "And we will work as hard as we can to make sure that the rest of his life is a success as well."
