Stewart Crameri eyes permanent spot in Geelong’s best 22 after finally playing 100th career game

STEWART Crameri was stranded on 99 career games for more than a year but after finally playing his 100th game in his Geelong debut, he’ll now turn his attention to more important matters — cementing a spot in the 22 and pursuing his premiership dream.

Stewart Crameri in action during his Geelong debut. Picture: Michael Klein

REJUVENATED Cat Stewart Crameri will spend the next few days reflecting on his rollercoaster AFL journey before switching his attention to locking in a spot in a Geelong team he believes can push towards another premiership.

Eight years on from his AFL debut, and at his third club, Crameri finally made it to 100 league games on Friday night, but is keen on building on that figure.

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It was a milestone he feared he would never reach. Having left Essendon after the supplements scandal, and having missed a year of football due to the 12-month ban the Bombers players received, he was left stranded on 99 career games when the Western Bulldogs delisted him at the end of last season.

Geelong backed him in, and took him as a rookie late last year, confident the 29-year-old could beat an ongoing hip injury that plagued his recent years.

Stewart Crameri in action during his Geelong debut. Picture: Michael Klein

“To have my first game back for a while and to play the 100th, it has all sort of culminated in one great moment,” Crameri said after kicking two goals in his AFL return in the Cats’ demolition of Greater Western Sydney.

Asked what the Cats’ expectations had been, Crameri said: “Firstly, it was to get my hip right, and I said ‘Yeah I will do that’, and then they said play some VFL games and do what you can.

“They said ‘You have played consistently in the last month, so you can come back in.

“They didn’t set a ceiling, and I said ‘I am going to try my best and do what I can to try and help the team win another flag’.”

It was an emotional return for Crameri, with his family in the stands cheering him on, and with his first goal on Friday night every teammate who was on the field came to him, showing his popularity within the playing group.

“It was awesome,” he said. “I was hoping for a goal there at some stage, and the boys got around me.”

Patrick Dangerfield congratulates Crameri on booting his first goal in Cats colours. Picture: Michael Klein

“It was an amazing feeling. I haven’t felt that for a while, even the backmen came in and gave me a pat on the back.

“It is pretty special because I know how hard it has been to get there. Just to get a second chance is enormous because these things don’t last forever.

“I know my family and friends have helped me out a lot. I have worked really hard at Geelong for the last six months just to get my body right, so to be back playing is huge.”

The Cats prepared a special 100-game video for Crameri before the game, and it meant so much to him, given the many hurdles he has encountered.

“The coach told me (he was playing during the week) and I sort of couldn’t believe him,” he said.

He took some time to find his feet in the game, but once he did, he looked at home in the Cats’ forward line.

He said it was a pleasure to have a front-row position in attack in seeing Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Hawkins in action, and he thinks when Daniel Menzel returns to the side, he could slide a little further up the field.

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