Stewart was drafted by the Geelong Football Club with their second selection and fortieth overall in the 2016 national draft.[1] He made his debut in the forty-two point win against Fremantle in the opening round of the 2017 season at Domain Stadium.[2] Since then Stewart he has been a 5-time All-Australian and was awarded the AFLCA Young Player Award in 2018.
Stewart made his debut for Geelong in the opening round of the 2017 AFL season, in the team's forty-two point win against Fremantle.[7] On debut, Stewart collected 10 disposals, a rebound-50, a contested mark and 2 tackles.[8] In his debut season, Stewart would become a regular in Geelong's side, holding down his position as a half-back flanker. Stewart underwent surgery to repair a fractured eye socket he suffered in Geelong's dramatic round 14 win over Fremantle.[9] He was set to miss up to 6 weeks but was able to return for Geelong's loss to Adelaide in Round 18.[10] He would go onto to play his first final in Geelong's qualifying final loss to Richmond on Friday 8 September 2017. Stewart had an average performance on the night, collecting 11 disposals, 4 rebound-50s and 5 tackles.[11] Stewart would finish his debut year with 21 matches, averaging 14.7 disposals, 2.8 rebound-50s and 4.1 marks a game.
"The story adds value again doesn't it? He was virtually a regional player for a while, then best VFL player, now best 22 in the country. It is a fantastic rise"
The 2018 AFL season shaped to be Stewart's breakout season which saw him become one of the league's best defenders. After maintaining a consistent position in Geelong's defensive six during the 2017 season, only missing games to injury, Stewart continued this effort for the 2018 season. In Geelong's round 3 loss to West Coast he received a vote in the AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year award after recording 20 disposals, 13 effective kicks and 3 rebound-50s.[13] The next week, Stewart would record, 20 disposals, 6 rebounds-50s and 8 marks, one of which was contested in Geelong's round 4 victory over St Kilda. This would be a breakout game for the young defender as it saw him earn his first brownlow vote and 7 AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year votes. On 12 April, Stewart would re-sign a contract extension with Geelong to remain at the club until the end of 2019.[14] Stewart had another outstanding game in the cats win over Collingwood in round 8. Stewart collected 28 disposals, 7 rebound-50s and 9 marks, 2 of which were contested. For this performance, earned Stewart 9 AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year votes and one brownlow vote, raising his career total to 3 votes.[15] For his remarkable season, Stewart was awarded with numerous accolades. He won the AFLCA Young Player Award, which takes the total number of coaches votes of all players in their first two seasons with the highest vote-getter winning. Steward won the award with 40 votes, 17 higher than second place.[16] He would also earn his first All-Australian selection as a back pocket[17] and finished sixth in the Carji Greeves Medal.[18]
Before the start of the 2019 AFL season, Stewart was elevated to Geelong's seven men leadership team. Geelong captain Joel Selwood praised Stewart's growth from a mature-age draftee to All-Australian and leader at the club within a span of three years. "Mid last year he asked to be a part of meetings and come in and stuff like that," Selwood said. "He was at a stage where his footy was taking care of itself so we didn't want a burden on him but he was relishing the job, so this was just the next step for him."[19] Stewart started the 2019 AFL season as well as he had ended the 2018 season. In his first 4 matches of the season, Stewart averaged 25.5 disposals, 10.5 rebound-50s and 7.3 marks at game. This spectacular form continued all throughout the season with Stewart finishing the season averaging 23.2 disposals, a league high 8.0 rebound-50s and 7.4 marks a game. For his best season thus far, Stewart was rewards with his second All-Australian blazer[20] and a third-place finish in Geelong's best and fairest count.[21]
2020–: Continued success
After establishing himself as one of the premier defenders in the league, Stewart continued with his great form into the 2020 AFL season. He recorded 18 disposals in a round 1 loss against Greater Western Sydney when the season began in late March, but under extraordinary conditions imposed on the league as a result of the rapid progression of the coronavirus pandemic into Australia.[22][23][24] In what the league planned would be the first of a reduced 17-round season, the match was played without crowds in attendance due to public health prohibitions on large gatherings and with quarter lengths reduced by one fifth in order to reduce the physical load on players who would be expected to play multiple matches with short breaks in the second half of the year.[25][26] Just three days later, the AFL Commission suspended the season for an indefinite period after multiple states enforced quarantine conditions on their borders that effectively ruled out the possibility of continuing the season as planned.[27][28] After an 11-week hiatus, Stewart contributed 20 disposals in a round 2 win over Hawthorn when the season resumed in early-June. Stewart would play in all 4 of Geelong's 2020 finals including the 2020 AFL Grand Final, where Geelong would go down by 31 points to Richmond. This would be Stewart's first Grand Final appearance and was among the best for his side, collecting 20 disposals, 10 rebound-50s and 6 marks. Stewart would finish 14th in Carji Greeves Medal.[29] Already contracted until 2021, Stewart would go onto to sign a new contract which would add three years to his existing deal keeping him at Geelong until the end of 2024.[30] In 2020 he was named in the St Joseph's College Team of Champions, recognising the best VFL/AFL players to have attended the school.[31]
Stewart entered the 2021 AFL season ranked in the 'elite' category among the league's defenders by the AFL's official statistical partner Champion Data.[32] Stewart's 2021 season shaped to be his best season yet. His numbers in disposals and marks were at a career high. He was named in the AFL media's mid-season All-Australian team on a back pocket.[33] In round 14, Stewart had a career best game in Geelong's after the siren win to the Western Bulldogs. in the match, Stewart tied the record for the most intercept marks in the last 20 years, with 10, and had 15 intercept possessions in total. It wasn't just about his defensive efforts however; finishing with 27 disposals and six score involvements, he was able to launch several Cats attacks, including one last-quarter goal.[34] Stewart was praised by many after the game including his coach, "It's one of the best games I've seen a half-back flanker play," Chris Scott said post-game.[35] For his effort he received 9 AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year votes. On 14 August Stewart injured his foot at training in a marking contest. The 28 year old underwent surgery after suffering Lisfranc damage. This meant that Stewart would miss the rest of the season, including Geelong's finals series.[36] After a career best season, with Stewart averaging 24.0 disposals, 6.1 rebound-50s and a league high 8.9 marks a game, he was awarded his third All-Australian in just five years.[37]
Despite Stewart missing the final few games of the season to injury, he still claimed his maiden Carji Greeves medal.
In the 2022 AFL season during a round 15 match against Richmond Stewart bumped Dion Prestia high, which saw Stewart suspended for four matches.[38] Stewart won his first AFL premiership with Geelong in 2022 and earnt his fourth All-Australian selection.
Despite a disappointing year for Geelong in 2023, Stewart remained a standout for the team throughout the whole year. He was rewarded with his fifth All-Australian selection in the 2023 All-Australian team, and winning his second Carji Greeves Medal.[39] Stewart's fifth All-Australian selection in 2023 gave him the record for the fewest games played (148) by an AFL player to reach five All-Australian selections.[40]
Player profile
Stewart plays as a rebounding half-back and back pocket. He is known for his ability to break through oppositions forward defensive structures with his elite kicking skill. His marking ability allows him to be one of the best intercept players in the competition being ranked elite by Champion Data for intercept marks and Contested Defence One on Ones.[41] Stewart is also known for both his on-field and off-leadership, with pundits tipping Stewart to be Geelong's next captain.[42]
Stewart was named the seventh best defender and 42nd best player overall in the Herald Sun's list of the best players pre-2020 season.[43]
^The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
