Tom Stewart striving to lead Geelong’s next wave of defenders to flag glory

Geelong defender Tom Stewart is in the presence of premiership greatness every time he steps foot in the club and that’s driving him to achieve the ultimate success himself.

Tom Stewart wants to follow fellow defenders Matthew Scarlett and Corey Enright as premiership Cats. Picture: AAP

Geelong’s Tom Stewart knows he doesn’t need to look too far for inspiration.

On an almost daily basis he works alongside two of Geelong’s greatest defenders in Matthew Scarlett and Corey Enright — triple premiership players and now assistant coaches.

It’s one of the many forces that drives the 26-year-old All-Australian backman as he looks to better himself — and the team — in a quest for success.

“It’s pretty easy to look in our own backyard to see the people we want to aspire to be,” Stewart told the Herald Sun ahead of Friday night’s clash with Adelaide at GMHBA Stadium.

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“We’ve got coaches and assistant coaches who were premiership players and it is easy to aspire to chase something that they already have.

“We are very lucky in that respect to have a goal to look towards in terms of team success.”

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The Cats may sit atop the ladder but Stewart knows that flags aren’t won in June.

He insists last week’s disappointing loss to Port Adelaide shows they can’t afford to look too far ahead.

Cats fans must have wondered how they would ever deal long-term with the on-field departures of star defenders Scarlett, Enright, Darren Milburn, Andrew Mackie and Tom Harley following the club’s three flags in five seasons (2007, 2009 and 2011).

But what has happened in Geelong’s back half this year has given rise to hope that the next wave can help take the club to future success.

Harry Taylor remains the only on-field defensive mainstay from those premiership campaigns.

But the performance of the self-titled “Misfits” — so named because they have come from an assortment of backgrounds — has seen the Cats rated the best defensive team this year.

Tom Stewart flies for a mark against North Melbourne. Picture: Michael Klein

The back six — Stewart, Taylor, Mark Blicavs, Zach Tuohy, Mark O’Connior and Jade Kolodjashnij — have formed a huge part of the reason why Geelong sits at 11-2.

“Scarlo leads us as well as anybody, in the way he did it with ‘Boris’ (Enright) and Tom Harley and Harry (Taylor),” Stewart said.

“He really puts the mantra of brotherhood in the backline. We have each other’s back.”

Part of Stewart’s drive is poor form during the past two Septembers. He’s played four finals — for only one win.

“Personally, I don’t think I have performed so far in my finals experiences,” he said.

“I need to get back there and prove to the footy club, and my teammates that we can perform as a collective and as individuals on a big stage.”

The Cats could hardly have expected any more from Stewart from the time he first came to the club on the urging of Scarlett, via pick 40 in the 2016 national draft.

It’s a well-known story of how the talented country footballer downed his carpentry tools and became one of the most highly-rated defenders in the country.

“The story gets flogged a little, the South Barwon product that Scarlo wrapped his arms around,” Stewart said.

“I like to think I am not just the mature-aged draft pick that came in anymore. Hopefully, I have moved on from that, and become a consistent footballer.

“Geelong has been fantastic for me. I want to contribute as much as I can to the club. I want to be remembered for what I do, not just as a footballer, but as a person around the club.”’

Tom Stewart gets a handball away undre pressure. Picture: AFL Photos

His footprint across 56 games has already been significant. His teammates insist his impact off the ground has been just as profound.

He was elevated to the Geelong leadership group this season (one of four defenders in the six-man group), and has thrived in the role.

“I love being a part of those discussion with Joel (Selwood), Harry and ‘Blics’ (Blicavs) about where we are going as a football club,” he said.

“I thought I could really develop and hopefully help out some of the older guys and throw up some fresh ideas.”

Stewart also took on an assistant coaches role with Geelong’s AFLW team in its inaugural year and intends to do the same next year.

“I was on the front foot to be involved,” he said.

“The girls had a fantastic first year, and it was great to work in their (AFLW) program.”

Tom Stewart coaching Geelong’s AFLW players. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Another of Stewart’s loves was outed this week by Irish teammate Tuohy, who revealed on the Cats podcast that the pair play “footy golf’ pre-game — pinpointing targets around the ground and aiming to hit them.

“Zach and I sort of have a go at each other on the field and have some really robust conversations,” he said.

“He’s good fun, he’s very opinionated and he loves to have his say.

“The one I really love seeing do well is ‘Blics’. I don’t think he gets enough credit for what he does.

“He could literally rock up each week and play on any player, and get the job done.

“I think he has only got his colours lowered once or twice since he has been playing full back. He works so hard on his craft, everything he does is down to a fine detail.”

The same could be said for Stewart, who remains driven to finish this season off as best as he can in order to get another crack at finals action.