Tom Stewart focused and driven ahead of the 2023 season

With a premiership and four All-Australians on his resume, Tom Stewart is still focused on getting better. This is why.

Tom Stewart is ready for another big season. Picture: Brad Fleet

Geelong star Tom Stewart has been counting down to round 1 for weeks as he remains driven by the time he missed last season due to suspension.

The Cats vice-captain missed five of Geelong’s matches last year, with four of those coming in one hit after he was banned for a high bump on Richmond’s Dion Prestia in round 15.

Tom Stewart in full flight. Picture: Michael Klein

Despite sitting out for almost a quarter of the regular season, Stewart was still outstanding enough to be named All-Australian and played a key part in Geelong’s premiership run.

Through the long slog of pre-season, Stewart said he has always had his eye on what shapes as a round 1 blockbuster against Collingwood on March 17.

“I have been thinking about this for however many weeks the pre-season has gone for, just the sense of anticipation and readiness,” he said at Geelong’s season launch.

“I myself, I missed (five) games last year through obvious circumstances … and I just can’t wait to get back to playing for the Geelong Football Club.

“It’s what I love doing, it’s what I feel like I was born to do.

“The sense of steeliness and anticipation, 90,000 (fans) at the ‘G, how can you not get excited by that.”

Stewart said the summer has been “quite refreshing” as the Cats worked to avoid any premiership hangover and instead focus on getting better.

Pre-season was “refreshing”. Picture: Alan Barber

Playing against what Stewart pegged as the AFL’s best forwardline would only make the four-time All-Australian better, he said.

“Everyone comes in to the new pre-season with their own personal goals and reasons to try and get better which is going to make myself a better player,” he said.

“We welcome that fire and fuel and that challenge of pre-season because I know personally, playing against the best forwardline in the comp is going to make me a better player.

“The competition is fierce on training days, we had a training three weeks ago on Friday that was one of the hardest sessions I have been a part of in my time.”

Originally published as Tom Stewart focused and driven ahead of the 2023 season