AFL star Patrick Dangerfield's three-word comment adds to mystery over 2am nightclub collapse that saw his teammate Tyson Stengle rushed to hospital

The mystery over AFL star Tyson Stengle's collapse in a nightclub on Sunday morning has deepened after his captain described it as an 'error in judgement'.

The Geelong Cats player was at Bloom nightclub in Geelong on Sunday after his side beat the Kangaroos on Saturday afternoon, 7 News reported.

He was reportedly helped out of the club by friends before being taken to Geelong Hospital in a serious condition. 

Stengle, 25, was discharged later on Sunday. 

Cats' captain Patrick Dangerfield defended Stengle's right to go out and let off steam on Tuesday morning but suggested there had been an 'error in judgement'.

'We treat our players like adults,' Dangerfield said, reported the Herald Sun.

'They have every right to go out and enjoy themselves.

'Clearly with that, you've got to do it responsibly and there has been a bit of an error in judgment with that.' 

Dangerfield said the club 'love(s) Tys and we will always support him'.

The Cats previously said there was a 'health incident involving Tyson Stengle over the weekend'.

'Most importantly Tyson is okay and attended the Club on Monday,' a spokesman said.

'The Club's priority is Tyson's mental health and wellbeing.'

Stengle arrived at the Cats in 2022 after he was sacked by his former club the Adelaide Crows.

The club had parted ways with the small forward after he was pictured next to what appeared to be an illicit substance.

That came after Stengle had also been suspended for four games on two separate occasions, after being caught with illicit drugs in September 2020 and found guilty of drink driving the previous April.

But when Stengle made the move to Geelong, he said at the time he had found a guide and mentor in his cousin, Eddie Betts.

The AFL legend had also found himself in trouble with the authorities in the early days of his career.

'Eddie spoke about how he messed up a couple of times at the start of his career, he just had to lock in and lift his focus,' Stengle told The Herald Sun at the time.

'He gave me that little pep talk.

'Probably when I first left the system, people wouldn't have thought I would've been able to get back in the system.

'I think I'm proving a few people wrong.'

Stood down by the Crows after his third strike, Stengle had to train on his own for two months before playing in South Australia's state league in the hope of impressing potential AFL suitors.

He did so emphatically, kicking 44 goals in 19 matches - including three in the Grand Final - to help Woodville-West Torrens win the premiership. 

Stengle was staying in Darwin with Betts - who is now a development coach at Geelong - and his wife when he was told he had been picked up by the Cats.

'It was a really happy time – Eddie was proud,' he said.   

'I was a little bit shocked and a little bit emotional. I was also really proud then really happy and we hugged.'

Stengle has played 79 matches in his career for Richmond, Adelaide and Geelong.