In a typically selfless Tom Stewart style, the Geelong defender has used a media conference ahead of his 200th match to spotlight those key players in his journey.
The five-time All-Australian will become the 45th Cat to reach the milestone at VFL/AFL level in Saturday night’s blockbuster clash at the MCG.
“When you get a milestone, it’s a nice moment to pause and reflect on those who play a significant part in your journey,” he said.
“I’ve taken time to let some people close to me know how much they mean to me and how much I truly value what they’ve done.”
Stewart was quick to point out the support of wife Emma, son Arthur, and daughter Charlie, who were sitting in the front row of Geelong’s players auditorium as their husband and dad answered a myriad of questions.
“I’m trying not to make eye contact with them because I’ll probably cry,” Stewart said.
“We’ve been together since we were 18. She’s been on the journey with me forever.
“She knows how much she means to me.
“The kids came a bit later. The perspective that you garner from being a father is unbelievable.”
Then there are the likes of coach Chris Scott, development coach Nigel Lappin, highly regarded player development manager Mark Worthington, and former assistant coach Corey Enright, now at St Kilda, who wore the no. 44 immediately prior to Stewart’s arrival.
“You know the old adage, it takes a village to raise a child. I feel like I’ve been so lucky to have worked with and played alongside some amazing people,” the two-time best-and-fairest said.
“Harry Taylor, Lachie Henderson, Zach Tuohy, the list just goes on of the people that have had an impact on me.
“I’m at an amazing club that has given me the absolute platform to play at my best, and I’m very proud that I’m in the position I am.”
Three-time premiership great Matthew Scarlett is among those who can expect to see Stewart’s number pop up in his call ID.
The star defender could see the potential in Stewart when he played alongside him at local club South Barwon, pushing him to the Cats’ VFL squad after he was named in the 2014 Geelong league team of the year.
“He saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself; I was happy just playing local football,” Stewart said.
“He really gave me (the) belief in myself that I could play at a high level, whether that was VFL or obviously where my career’s landed now.
“He just gave me the confidence to believe in myself and to go after the game.”
But don’t call him a poster boy for those who didn’t come through the now-traditional pathway of being drafted out of underage football.
“It’s interesting that, that whole I’m the poster boy, because there were so many before me that had that journey,” Stewart said
“Scott Thompson helps us out once a week with our key position players, James Podsiadly.
“So I feel a bit strange when people do say that, but I think I was, right place, right time. There was a spot for there for me to take.
” I had some pretty unbelievable people who believed in me.
“If you want to try your hand at VFL footy, get down and have a crack because you never know where it might lead.”
X: @krockfootball
