SKULL-DUGGERY
Stewart eyes return from facial surgery
‘They cut from ear to ear across the top of your skull and actually peel your forehead down’
GEELONG defender Tom Stewart is eyeing a return against Adelaide or Carlton as he progresses well from facial surgery.
The 24-year-old suffered a broken eye socket in the win over Fremantle in Round 14 and went under the knife two days later.
The former South Barwon and Geelong VFL product yesterday revealed some of the details of the surgery.
“They cut from ear to ear across the top of your skull and actually peel your forehead down,” Stewart said.
“Because it was a compression injury, so the bone actually went back in my eye socket, they had to get in behind and pop it back out.
“(I’ve got) a couple of plates across my forehead.” Stewart stayed in Geelong with Tom Ruggles while Geelong spent a week training up on t the Gold Coast.
Stewart said he was ahead of schedule in his r recovery and w was hopeful he could push for a senior return in the next fortnight.
“I am feeling really, really good,” he said.
“It’s positive from the surgeon’s point of view, he got in there and fixed it right up.
“I got the stitches out a week early and I was back on the track last week, so it’s really nice. I was getting pretty bored at home, it’s good to be back here with the boys.
“(I am) aiming for Carlton, but Adelaide’s hopefully my best bet. I just want to get back out there.”
Stewart said he can still recall the marking contest and head clash with Docker Hayden Crozier that left him feeling worse for wear.
“I remember the whole thing. I wasn’t knocked out or anything,” he said.
“It was an unfortunate spot to hit on Crozier’s head, the hardest spot on my softest part.
“The shock didn’t settle in until later, when I was actually sitting down not doing much. It wasn’t too bad, as I said, it was pretty painful afterwards.”