Tom Stewart has admitted he was “sad to see” Geelong great Matthew Scarlett depart the club as assistant coach earlier in September and also revealed whether he was likely to play in the AFL Grand Final.
Scarlett was one of three assistants to leave Kardinia Park in the aftermath of Cats’ massive Preliminary Final loss to Melbourne, joining Corey Enright and Matthew Egan out the door.
He’s credited with getting Stewart to Geelong as a mature age draft pick, and the 28-year-old Cat agrees that Scarlett has changed his life.
“The story of myself and Scarlett is a well-told one, he plucked me from obscurity and told me to pull my finger out, I trusted him and he’s an extremely close mate and very loyal friend,” Stewart told AFL Trade Radio’s Trade Afternoons.
“I can’t thank him enough, publicly or privately.
“He’s done so much for me, and he really has changed my life, there are not too many people you can say that about with 100 per cent wholehearted truth.
“Obviously it was sad to see him go, but I think for him at this point in time, he’s spent a lot of time in footy and he’s excited to see what else goes on outside of it.
“He’s pretty tired, he’s got a young family and I think he just wants to sit back and take a deep breath.”
Stewart wasn't able to compete under Scarlett for the latter portion of the year, missing the Cats’ last five games of the AFL season after injuring his foot at training.
However, belief was growing that the defender would make a miraculous recovery to play in the AFL Grand Final.
Ultimately it didn’t matter, as the Cats crumbled in the heat of the Preliminary Final against Melbourne.
But Stewart is confident he was going to be available for selection had the Cats progressed to the last week in September.
“I was going to give myself every opportunity, I was always going to push the buck and give myself every chance,” he said.
“I think I had 15 days from when the team lost to the Grand Final.
“There were a lot of things I had to tick off in those 15 days … But I was well and truly on the way to playing.
“I believe if everything had gone right and the team had got there then I would have given myself every chance, and knowing my own personality and how stubborn I am, I would have put my hand up.”
Stewart won his first best and fairest for the Cats last Thursday night, capping off another stellar season for the reliable defender.