| Tom Stewart | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Stewart playing for Geelong in June 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Born | (1993-03-15)15 March 1993 (age 32) | ||
| Original team | Geelong (VFL) | ||
| Draft | No. 40,2016 national draft | ||
| Debut | Round 1, 2017,Geelong vs.Fremantle, atDomain Stadium | ||
| Height | 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Weight | 88 kg (194 lb) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Geelong | ||
| Number | 44 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2017– | Geelong | 191 (6) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2025. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources:AFL Tables,AustralianFootball.com | |||
Thomas Stewart (born 15 March 1993) is a professionalAustralian rules footballer playing for theGeelong Football Club in theAustralian Football League (AFL). At 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) 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 theGeelong Falcons andSouth Barwon Football Club as junior, winning consecutive premierships in 2012 and 2013 with South Barwon.
Stewart was drafted by the Geelong Football Club with their second selection and fortieth overall in the2016 national draft.[1] He made his debut in the forty-two point win againstFremantle in the opening round of the 2017 season atDomain Stadium.[2] Since then Stewart he has been a 5-timeAll-Australian and was awarded the AFLCA Young Player Award in 2018.
As a teenager, Stewart played for theGeelong Falcons in theTAC Cup. After going undrafted in numerous drafts went and played for his local club in theGeelong Football Netball League.[3]Stewart played football forSouth Barwon Football Club which currently competes in the Geelong Football Netball League, the major regional league in the region.[4] In 2013, Stewart was a part of South Barwon's premiership which was led by playing coach andAustralian Football Hall of Famer,Matthew Scarlett. In 2016, Stewart's performances for the Geelong Football Club'sVFL team landed him on the radar of AFL club recruiters.[5] He was drafted at pick 40 in the2016 national draft by theGeelong Football Club.[6]
Stewart made his debut forGeelong in the opening round of the2017 AFL season, in the team's forty-two point win againstFremantle.[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 ahalf-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 toAdelaide in Round 18.[10] He would go onto to play his firstfinal in Geelong's qualifying final loss toRichmond 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"
The2018 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 toWest 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 overSt Kilda. This would be a breakout game for the young defender as it saw him earn his firstbrownlow 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 overCollingwood 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 theAFLCA 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 firstAll-Australian selection as a back pocket[17] and finished sixth in theCarji Greeves Medal.[18]
Before the start of the2019 AFL season, Stewart was elevated to Geelong's seven men leadership team. Geelong captainJoel 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]
After establishing himself as one of the premier defenders in the league, Stewart continued with his great form into theCOVID-19 pandemic-interrupted2020 AFL season. Stewart would play in all 4 of Geelong's 2020 finals including the2020 AFL Grand Final, where Geelong would go down by 31 points toRichmond. 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 finished 14th inCarji Greeves Medal.[22] Already contracted until 2021, Stewart signed a new contract which added three years to his existing deal, keeping him at Geelong until the end of 2024.[23] In 2020 he was named in theSt Joseph's College Team of Champions, recognising the bestVFL/AFL players to have attended the school.[24]
Stewart entered the2021 AFL season ranked in the 'elite' category among the league's defenders by the AFL's official statistical partnerChampion Data.[25] 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.[26] In round 14, Stewart had a career best game in Geelong's after the siren win to theWestern 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.[27] 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.[28] 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.[29] 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 thirdAll-Australian in just five years.[30]Despite Stewart missing the final few games of the season to injury, he still claimed his maiden Carji Greeves medal.
In the2022 AFL season during a round 15 match against Richmond Stewart bumpedDion Prestia high, which saw Stewart suspended for four matches.[31] Stewart won his first AFL premiership with Geelong in 2022 and earnt his fourth All-Australian selection.
Despite a disappointing year for Geelong in2023, Stewart remained a standout for the team throughout the whole year. He was rewarded with his fifth All-Australian selection in the2023 All-Australian team, and winning his second Carji Greeves Medal.[32] 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.[33]
Stewart played 20 matches in the 2025 season. He missed the club's loss in the2025 AFL Grand Final after suffering a concussion in the preliminary final the previous week.[34]
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.[35] Stewart is also known for both his on-field and off-leadership, with pundits tipping Stewart to be Geelong's next captain.[36]
Stewart was named the seventh best defender and 42nd best player overall in theHerald Sun's list of the best players pre-2020 season.[37]
Updated to the end of the 2023 season.[38]
G | Goals | K | Kicks | D | Disposals | T | Tackles |
B | Behinds | H | Handballs | M | Marks | ||
# | Played in that season's premiership team | † | Led the league for the season |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
| 2017 | Geelong | 44 | 21 | 2 | 2 | 189 | 120 | 309 | 86 | 55 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 9.0 | 5.7 | 14.7 | 4.1 | 2.6 | 0 |
| 2018 | Geelong | 44 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 296 | 146 | 442 | 132 | 46 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13.5 | 6.6 | 20.1 | 6.0 | 2.1 | 4 |
| 2019 | Geelong | 44 | 25 | 0 | 2 | 473† | 107 | 580 | 185 | 42 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 18.9 | 4.3 | 23.2 | 7.4 | 1.7 | 3 |
| 2020 | Geelong | 44 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 263 | 81 | 344 | 125† | 23 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 14.6 | 4.5 | 19.1 | 6.9 | 1.3 | 1 |
| 2021 | Geelong | 44 | 20 | 0 | 3 | 378 | 102 | 480 | 178 | 21 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 18.9 | 5.1 | 24.0 | 8.9† | 1.1 | 8 |
| 2022# | Geelong | 44 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 354 | 111 | 465 | 146 | 40 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 17.7 | 5.6 | 23.3 | 7.3 | 2.0 | 9 |
| 2023 | Geelong | 44 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 408 | 99 | 507 | 182 | 43 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 18.5 | 4.5 | 23.0 | 8.2 | 1.9 | 6 |
| 2024 | Geelong | 44 | 23 | 1 | 3 | 358 | 137 | 495 | 140 | 68 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 15.6 | 6.0 | 21.5 | 6.1 | 3.0 | 12 |
| 2025 | Geelong | 44 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 296 | 75 | 371 | 147 | 29 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 14.8 | 3.8 | 18.6 | 7.4 | 1.5 | 0 |
| Career | 191 | 6 | 13 | 3015 | 978 | 3993 | 1321 | 367 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 15.8 | 5.1 | 20.9 | 6.9 | 1.9 | 43 | ||
Notes
Team
Individual