Former Collingwood and Richmond player Craig Stewart dies, aged 66

Collingwood and Richmond are mourning the loss of popular former big man Craig Stewart, who has died, aged 66. Craig was also the father of current Bomber James Stewart.

Craig Stewart (middle) has passed away.

Collingwood and Richmond are mourning the loss of popular former big man Craig Stewart, who has died, aged 66.

Stewart represented the Magpies in 115 matches including consecutive Grand Final appearances in 1980 and 1981 before adding a further 35 matches with Richmond after being part of the infamous trade wars between the two clubs in the 1980s.

He was also the father of current Essendon forward James Stewart, who has played 78 games for the Giants and the Bombers.

Stewart was recruited to Collingwood in 1978 off the back of his excellent form as a forward with Preston in the VFA, having won the Bullants’ goal-kicking award in 1976 and the club’s best and fairest award in 1977.

He was 21 when he made his debut for Collingwood in Round 1, 1978, and swiftly established himself in the Magpies’ team under Tom Hafey with 21 games in his first VFL season. His form was such that he won the club’s best first year player that season.

Craig Stewart played in consecutive Grand Final appearances in 1980 and 1981.

A solidly-built key position player, playing mainly in attack but also as a back-up ruck and occasional defender, he was a prodigious kick of the ball and more than capable in the air.

Stewart backed up his fine first season with 23 games the following year, with his standout performance being a six-goal haul in the round 4, 1979 clash with St Kilda in a game that produced Collingwood’s greatest winning margin (178 points).

He kicked a career-best 32 goals that season but missed out on playing in the club’s grand final loss to Carlton, having played in two of the other finals.

Stewart had one of his best seasons in 1980, when he was third in the Magpies’ best and fairest award in 1980 and represented the Victorian ‘B’ side. He kicked six goals against the Bulldogs late in the season, before kicking three goals in the club’s semi-final win over Carlton and one major against Geelong in the preliminary final.

He was a member of Collingwood’s 1980 Grand Final side which was thrashed by Richmond and also played in the Magpies’ losing Grand Final side against Carlton the following year.

The key position player also finished third in the club’s best and fairest in 1982, in what was a challenging season for the Magpies when coach Tom Hafey was sacked midseason.

Stewart was caught up in the trade wars between Collingwood and Richmond during the 1980s when he was one of several Magpies to transfer to Punt Road in 1984.

He went on to play three seasons with the Tigers from 1984 to 1986, playing mainly as a defender for the club.

Stewart was disappointed when his son James was overlooked by Collingwood as a father-son prospect and was instead picked up by Greater Western Sydney.

James played 18 games for the Giants before moving to Essendon, where he has played 60 matches, but injuries have hindered his progress in the past two seasons.

Originally published as Former Collingwood and Richmond player Craig Stewart dies, aged 66