HUNGRY TOM
Cats’ mature-age recruit has taste for big time
TOM Stewart (right) says his appetite for AFL football is insatiable as he eyes off the prospect of a Round 1 debut.
The mature-age recruit ran out for the Cats against Hawthorn in the JLT Series in Tasmania last week and was impressive with 16 disposals in Geelong’s defence.
Stewart said that taste was enough to have him charging towards Geelong’s season opener against Fremantle in Western Australia.
“One hundred per cent it’s addictive when you get out there. You just want to keep playing games,” he said.
“You want to test yourself against the best people in the country, so it definitely has whet the appetite.
“If Round 1 is up for talk, then I am stoked.
But I’ve still got this weekend and two more JLT games to get through if I’m lucky enough to get selected and put my hand up (with some good performances).
“It was pretty awesome. I suppose it doesn’t really count (as a senior game) but it was cool to get our there and have the experience of running alongside those blokes.
“Hopefully it’s the first of many.”
The 23-year-old had to overcome a shoulder reconstruction in the off-season and since his return from surgery has been one of Geelong’s preseason bolters.
His performance on the track attracted high praise from senior Cats, including Harry Taylor and Tom Lonergan.
“When I came here I had a bit of a shoulder reconstruction so when I went out on the track with the main group I really wanted to earn the respect of the playing group and really show myself, the playing group and the coaching staff that I do belong down here,” Stewart said.
“I am here to work. It’s still a long road (to earn respect), I haven’t played a game of AFL football yet and there is a long way to go but I just want to keep ticking boxes each week.”
ZACH Guthrie bit off more than he could chew at Geelong training yesterday. The lightly built rookie, who was one of the shining lights in Geelong’s opening JLT Series loss to Hawthorn last week, was flung around with ease by Cats spearhead Tom Hawkins. To be fair to Guthrie, he was giving the “Tomahawk” a 36kg weight advantage but it goes to show just how much more time the rising defender has to spend in the gym. Geelong has the week off following its after-the-siren loss to the Hawks, but returns on Sunday, March 5, with an away clash against Adelaide at Richmond Oval. The Cats finish their pre-season with a trip to Bendigo to play Essendon at Queen Elizabeth Oval on March 12.