Geelong recruit Tom Stewart could play Round 1 after impressing in defence during preseason training

GEELONG recruit Tom Stewart could step straight into Geelong’s team for Round 1 after impressing during preseason with his marking and rebound off halfback.

GEELONG mature-age recruit Tom Stewart could step straight into Cats’ senior team to help bolster their new-look backline.

The 190cm defender has firmed for Round 1 selection after impressing over summer with his strong intercept marking and damaging rebound game.

Assistant coach Corey Enright said Stewart, 23, would provide another strong body in the back half as the Cats look to adopt a “different” mix in defence, starting with Friday night’s pre-season game against Hawthorn in Launceston.

Stewart was coached by champion defender Matthew Scarlett at South Barwon in 2014-15 and turned heads at VFL level finishing second in the Cats’ VFL best and fairest last season.

Enright’s retirement, combined with Harry Taylor’s move into the forward line has opened up spots for Stewart, Carlton recruit Zach Tuohy and knee reconstruction victim Jackson Thurlow to take on Fremantle in the Cats’ season-opener at Subiaco Oval on March 26.

Geelong drafted Tom Stewart out of its VFL program. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Re-signed Geelong midfielder Mitch Duncan backed Stewart to play in the early part of the season.

“Tommy showed what he can do in the VFL last year and would not surprise me at all if he played Round 1, to be honest,” Duncan said.

“I think he will play in the JLT Community Series games and really put his best foot forward.

“He is a very competitive person and he is very good with the all in hand as well. And defensively he is great, obviously, as well.

“I don’t see any reason at all why he shouldn’t be striving to play (against Fremantle).”

At 32-years-old, veteran backmen Tom Lonergan and Andrew Mackie will also have their loads managed this season.

Stewart, who was taken with pick No.40 in last year’s national draft, had post-season shoulder surgery and has trained strongly since the Christmas break.

Tom Stewart in action during the preseason. Picture: Jay Town

He will this season wear Enright’s No.44 guernsey and last season averaged 17 disposals including 6.4 intercept possessions a game in the VFL.

Enright said the Cats would revamp their defensive structure this season after conceding the second-least average number of points (70.6) per game last season.

“Zach has obviously come in and has had a fantastic career so far and he has come in and is learning the way the way we do things a little bit differently,” Enright said.

“We have recruited Zach and Tom Stewart who is a mature body who played a lot of VFL footy for us and Jackson Thurlow who missed all of last year with his knee, so there are three new guys coming into our backline group.

“We are trying to get those guys playing together and gelling together and giving us a different look to what we have had in the past.”

SUPERCOACH BARGAIN ALERT

TOM STEWART (GEE)

Defender, $117,300