REIGNING Cats Best and Fairest winner Tom Stewart is attacking the off-season with vigour after finishing last season on the sidelines nursing a foot injury.

Stewart has been a mainstay in the gym and out on ground at GMHBA Stadium since Geelong’s campaign wrapped up in Perth in early September.

GM of Football Simon Lloyd lauded Stewart’s faultless application to rehab after he injured his Lisfranc ligament at training before the club’s Round 22 clash against St Kilda.

“Tom has been completing 10 kilometre sessions twice per week,” Lloyd says

“This is his pre-pre-season and we’re seeing him in at the club most days and he’s working closely with a group of half a dozen other players doing running and kicking with that group of players.

“He’s building up his loading and doing everything from change of direction, running, jumping, kicking.

“He’s in a really good place.”

The progress has come thanks to a detailed plan set out by club staff and industry experts.

“He’s been guided very closely by our strength and conditioning and physio departments and we’re liaising closely with external experts,” Lloyd says.

“He’s been fastidious with his attention to detail, particularly ticking off all his performance indicators.

"Tom’s focus is on being in a good place prior to the start of pre-season. He’s really excited and ready to have some fun leading into the pre-season."