Five-time All-Australian. Premiership player. Two Carji Greeves medals. 2018 AFLCA Young Player award.
This is Tom Stewart's bio line as a Geelong defender since being selected as a mature-age recruit ahead of the 2017 season with Pick 40.
In recent weeks, Chris Scott made the call to push Stewart from defence into the midfield due to constant attention from the opposition that wreaked havoc for the star.
Ironically, the Cats' mid-year form slump was parallel to the dip in performances from the 31-year-old, who was consistently targeted, namely by Port Adelaide's Jed McEntee, Carlton's Alex Cincotta and Essendon's Archie Perkins while the Suns also put time into him.
However, the genius that is Scott saw a fluctuation in the midfield that needed rendering as well as freeing up the right-footer to get Geelong's season back on track.
After trialling it in the pre-season, the Cats relinquished control, throwing Stewart into centre bounces and around the stoppage to great effect.
For one, helping to relieve the tag but two, getting his own season going again.
The Bombers were the first recipients of what Stewart can do in the coalface, utilising his bigger frame, reaction time and power to good use.
Stewart was able to nullify Essendon's midfield (to an extent) as well as find plenty of the ball himself, something he struggled to do in the weeks prior.
โThe move makes sense to me, I hold him in such high regard,โ Scott said of Stewart post-Essendon win.
โI joked if we played him as a small forward, he would probably be the best small forward in the comp, in my opinion.
โHe's just got great attributes and a great attitude to his footy and I don't think he has been shooting the lights out, but he is going a lot better than people sense he has been.โ
Backing it up against Hawthorn and more recently Collingwood, Cats fans were enamoured by the potential Stewart has alongside Patrick Dangerfield, Mark Blicavs, Tom Atkins and Sam de Koning.
Defender
Marks
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Standing opposite the likes of Nick Daicos, Jordan De Goey, Scott Pendlebury and Jack Crisp, it was Stewart who denied their advances, especially from the centre bounce.
With nowhere to hide inside the centre square after goals, Geelong dominated, recording a 16-6 stat line that was ultimately where the game was one.
Former Melbourne player and ruckman Jeff White put it eloquently.
This was one of the best sweeper performances in 2024 from Tom Stewart @GeelongCats #afl @First__Use analysis ๐ง pic.twitter.com/r7OD5QF7TQ
— Jeff White (@JeffWhite34) July 13, 2024
Stewart's move into the midfield also sees Mitch Duncan push back, helping to bolster the once-stingy defence.
In the past three weeks - since the famed Stewart move - the Cats have conceded scores of 60, 59 and 71.
The South Barwon product plays the "sweeper" role to a tee, allowing Geelong to saturate their defensive half and turn the ball over.
Geelong sit in third spot following their Friday night victory but can fall as low as fifth, pending results.
They take on the Western Bulldogs in Round 19 as they pursue a double chance.
