Tributes flow for Cats legend Stewart Lord

The late Stewart Lord has been described as a man the “heart and soul” every good footy club needs, as people mourn the death of the 1963 Cats premiership winner.

Tributes are flowing for former Geelong great Stewart Lord, who passed away last week aged 81.

The former VFL halfback was a member of Geelong’s 1963 premiership team and the identical twin brother of Brownlow Medal winner Alistair Lord.

Stewart Lord at Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer's memorial at GMHBA Stadium Picture: Mike Dugdale

Former Cats vice president Bob Gartland sat with Stewart and his brother Alistair at the footy for a number of years.

“He was a good man, and quality people with quality values in football are the heart and soul of any great club,” he said.

Stewart Lord with young fans in 1963. Source: Bob Gartland Collection

1963. Sept 21. L to R. Barry Finn, Stewart Lord, Arthur Edgerton. 2nd Semi Final v Hawthorn at MCG. Source: Bob Gartland Collection

“Stewart had a great sense of fair play, he had great family values and was loved by his teammates.”

Hailing from Cobden in the state’s southwest, Lord made his debut for the Cats against Footscray in 1960.

Lord was part of the 1963 Geelong premiership team.

1964. Geelong coach Bob Davis has a word with Stewart Lord after training. Source: Bob Gartland Collection

“Stewart was a very classy footballer, a good mark and a very good kick,” Mr Gartland said.

“He was a very determined player across the halfback line.”

He retired after 74 games for the Cats, later captain-coaching at Camperdown and leading the team to two premierships in 1968 and 1970.

Polly Farmer's teammates from the 1963 Grand Final win. Alister Lord, Ian Scott, Stuart Lord, John Yates, Fred Wooller, Polly's Daughter Kim Farmer, John Sharrock, Doug Wade, Gordon Hynes, Billy Goggin and Polly's grand son Cole Baxter. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Lord maintained an off-field presence at Geelong for a number of years, serving as the Cats vice president for 12 years, on the board for 20 years and on the match committee for a number of years.

Mr Gartland also remembered the close bond between the identical brothers, with people often struggling to tell them apart.

1962. Geelong v Essendon. Hugh Mitchell as he is grabbed by three Geelong players (from Left) Stewart Lord, Alistair Lord and Paul Vinar. Mitchell had just jumped over fallen teammate Russell Blew to get to the ball.

“Alistair and Stewart were obviously twins, but they were inseparable,” he said.

“The bond between those two boys was extraordinary to witness, and their sense of brotherhood was obvious to everyone.”

Stewart was later inducted as a lifetime member of the Geelong Football Club in 1982.

The year after he retired, Stewart captained the Hampden Football League representative team.

Off the field, he took on a coaching role at Geelong West Football Club in the VFA betwen 1977-78.

Cats chief executive Steve Hocking said Lord had been a director while he had played for the club, and recalled him investing time and energy into young players.

“We send our deep condolences to the entire Lord family and his brother, Alistair,” he said.

“Stewart provided a lot of leadership to young footballers who came into the club, and we’re incredibly grateful for all that he contributed.”

Originally published as Tributes flow for Cats legend Stewart Lord