Paul Stewart reveals he was nearly axed from Port Adelaide

PORT Adelaide's comeback hero Paul Stewart has paid tribute to premiership player Adam Kingsley for saving him from the football scrap heap.

Paul Stewart

PORT Adelaide's comeback hero Paul Stewart has paid tribute to premiership player Adam Kingsley.

Stewart - who kicked the last-minute goal against the Kangaroos last week which dramatically snapped the club's six-game losing streak - revealed he was in serious danger of being delisted before some choice words from Kingsley turned his now-flourishing career around.

"Everyone's got a story," Stewart said of his key turning point at the end of his third AFL season in 2009.

"It's easy to look back now but I definitely didn't train hard enough in my first few seasons at the club.

"It wasn't until Adam Kingsley, who was my mentor and (assistant) coach, told me exactly how it was that I turned things around.

"I pretty much got told that if I didn't have a big year the next year (2010) my contract was coming up and ...

"It was pretty testing to be told exactly how it is but I thank Adam Kingsley for that.

"He was into me about my training, diet and doing extra stuff and he helped me step up my training and professionalism and to understand what it takes to play consistent footy in the AFL.

"So it probably took me until the start of 2010 to understand that I've really got to do something if I want  to make something out of football."

Kingsley - a key member of the Power's 2004 premiership side - oversaw a breakout year from Stewart in 2010 before joining St Kilda as an assistant coach.

While the versatile Stewart had his 2011 campaign ruined by a dislocated shoulder which required a reconstruction, he has played all eight games this season, culminating in his matchwinning goal against the Roos.

Club insiders believe the 24-year-old is one of the Power's hidden gems who, with a good run with injury, could be a star.

He has had to deal with neck, hip, knee and shoulder injuries in the past five years.

"Some players take a bit longer to develop than others and I'm still developing now," said Stewart.

"You see some people get to 50 games in two years whereas it's taken me a lot longer (in round six of his sixth AFL season against Richmond three weeks ago) to get there.

"My form was really inconsistent for the first three or so years and I'm still learning to play the consistent footy that everyone wants to play. But I'm getting there."

Stewart - who added 2kg of muscle to his 191cm frame in the off-season - is Port's Mr Versatility.

He can play as a tall midfielder, in defence on talls and smalls and as a marking target in attack.

"I love the midfield, coming off a wing, but we've got a lot of players going through the midfield at the moment," said Stewart, who was a SANFL premiership player with Woodville-West Torrens in 2006.

"I'm happy to play wherever Matty (coach Matthew Primus) needs me, even if it's coming off the bench or as a substitute, as long as I can play a role for the team."

He ripped off the green substitute's vest to kick his now-famous goal against North Melbourne.

While Stewart's career appears to be on the up, he will not afford himself the luxury of thinking he has finally made it.

"I like to live on the edge," he said.

"I don't like to think I've consolidated my spot at all.

"Some players need that (stability) to be able to perform each week, to know that their spot's safe.

"But I think I need to be on edge to perform at my best cause if you are a step  behind in your professionalism now you will get found out."