Stories
Geelong defender Tom Stewart joined the AFL Players’ Association’s Instagram account for a live chat, including a question and answer section with fans. Here’s a breakdown of the best parts of the two-time All Australian’s chat with AFLPA regional manager Bobby Quiney.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CA_07o8F9JM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Growing up in Mansfield and the four-hour trek to Geelong
I grew up playing as many sports as I could playing basketball, footy, cricket and a bit of athletics in there. Footy was my first love but I loved playing cricket when I was younger. I had a really strong cricketing family, a lot of cousins I grew up playing cricket with. Yeah I was (travelling four hours from Mansfield to South Barwon). I don’t know whether it was the fact that I loved playing Geelong footy or whether I got every Friday off school to go down to Geelong to play on the weekends. But for the second half of my under-14 year I travelled every Friday from Mansfield to South and ended up winning a flag at under-14 level. I jumped on the bus from Mansfield to Melbourne and then train to Geelong or sometimes my Dad would pick me up from Melbourne and if he was working up there. That’s the way it started and then I decided to move down.
Post-footy roles
I started (my carpentry apprenticeship) in 2012 and was lucky enough just before I got drafted I got signed off in 2016. I’m quite interested in the coaching pathway and I’ve been doing some coaching with the AFLW and being a mature-age pick I’d love to spend as much time in footy as I can after missing a few years at the start of my career. I’d love to stay in footy whether that’s in a coaching capacity or an admin role. I got thrown in the deep end and the club approached me and asked me about coaching, because they knew that was something I was interested in, and I was lucky enough to get an assistant coaching gig. The girls backed me in and we just had a lot of fun with it and we grew and learnt together. If I get the opportunity to (go back I will). The little fella is on the way in November, so if time permits I’d love to go back and help out.
![](http://www.aflplayers.com.au/app/uploads/2020/06/Stewy-wins-medal-760x438.jpg)