Tyson Stengle was a ward of the state — now he’s been drafted by AFL club RichmondLauren Novak,
AddPolitical Reporter,
The Advertiser
December 26, 2016 AT the age of just four, Tyson Stengle was removed from the care of his young parents by the state and taken in by his grandmother.
After a bumpy start, the youngster discovered Aussie Rules football and is now living every young man’s dream after being drafted to the AFL.
The 18-year-old will next year don the number 44 guernsey for the Richmond Tigers, 10 years after he first stepped on to a football field.
In an attempt to give Tyson and his older brother Anthony, now 19, some structure in their early years, they were enrolled at the local footy club and “that’s where it all started”, says grandfather Cecil Betts.
“They were only grasshoppers, we got them signed up and they played over 100 games for Portland Football Club,” he said.
“We needed to give them a different life. Football is a good thing, get them into sport, with the rules and regulations. I don’t think Tyson missed a training session.”
The boys were raised by their grandmother Debra until she passed away and have lived with their Nan and Pop, Emily and Cecil Betts, for the past four years.
Mr Betts recalls it was a rough start in life for the pair.
“Things took a turn for the worse (with their parents) and we wanted the kids to be in good care,” he said.
“But bad things can make you stronger. We know the road that they took and Tyson went through some things in his life but there’s a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.”
Tyson — who maintains contact with his mother — rose through the ranks of junior football, playing for the Port Magpies’ development squad and later the Woodville West Torrens Eagles.
Next year the small forward, who kicked a career-best 49 goals in 2015, will join up with Richmond.
“He said that that was his dream, that he really wanted to play AFL,” Mr Betts said.
“We’ve seen things that he’s done (on the field) and you end up scratching your head thinking how did he do that?”
A typical teenager, Tyson is clearly excited about the year ahead but, like many young men, he is economical with his words.
“It’s good. We’ve already started training. I’ve just come back for the Christmas break, to see family and catch up with friends,” he said.
A former student of Le Fevre High School in Adelaide’s west, Tyson moved to Melbourne about three weeks ago for pre-season training.
There are about 3300 children living in state care across South Australia, including more than 1400 who live with extended family, such as grandparents or aunts and uncles.
Another almost 1300 live with foster parents.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/tyson-stengle-was-a-ward-of-the-state-now-hes-been-drafted-by-afl-club-richmond/news-story/9898f22d9dba7bca5acc350e9b29597c
