Tom Stewart

Thomas Stewart (born 15 March 1993) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

At 190 cm (6 ft 3in) tall and 88 kg (194 lb), he plays as a running half-back who can play on both oversized and undersized opponents.

Stewart played for the Geelong Falcons and South Barwon Football Club as junior, winning consecutive premierships in 2012 and 2013 with South Barwon.

In 2013, Stewart would be a part of South Barwon's premiership which was led by playing coach and Australian Football Hall of Famer, Matthew Scarlett.

Stewart was drafted by the Geelong Football Club with their second selection and fortieth overall in the 2016 national draft.

In 2016, Stewart's performances for the Geelong Football Club's VFL team landed him on the radar of AFL club recruiters.

He was drafted at pick 40 in the 2016 national draft by the Geelong Football Club.

He made his debut in the forty-two point win against in the opening round of the 2017 season at Domain Stadium.

Stewart made his debut for in the opening round of the 2017 AFL season, in the team's forty-two point win against.

On debut, Stewart collected 10 disposals, a rebound-50, a contested mark and 2 tackles.

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.

He was set to miss up to 6 weeks but was able to return for Geelong's loss to in Round 18.

He would go onto to play his first final in Geelong's qualifying final loss to on Friday 8 September 2017.

Stewart had an average performance on the night, collecting 11 disposals, 4 rebound-50s and 5 tackles.

Stewart would finish his debut year with 21 matches, averaging 14.7 disposals, 2.8 rebound-50s and 4.1 marks a game.

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 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.

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.

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.

Since then Stewart he has been a 5-time All-Australian and was awarded the AFLCA Young Player Award in 2018.

As a teenager, Stewart played for the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup.

After going undrafted in numerous drafts went and played for his local club in the Geelong Football Netball League.

Stewart played football for South Barwon Football Club which currently competes in the Geelong Football Netball League, the major regional league in the region.

The 2018 AFL season shaped to be Stewart's breakout season which saw him become one of the league's best defenders.

On 12 April, Stewart would re-sign a contract extension with Geelong to remain at the club until the end of 2019.

Stewart had another outstanding game in the cats win over 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.

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.

He would also earn his first All-Australian selection as a back pocket and finished sixth in the Carji Greeves Medal.

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."

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.