With the incredible trajectory of Tom Stewart's career, it is easy to forget the persistence and resilience he needed early in his journey to land on Geelong's AFL list. 

After being overlooked in a number of drafts, Stewart went back and worked on his craft with the Cats VFL team and with local club South Barwon (GFL). 

The persistence finally saw his AFL dream come true, when Geelong selected the defender with pick 40 in the 2016 AFL draft. 

Stewart said it was during that year, following conversations with some important Cats,' that he realised the opportunity that lay ahead of him. 

"It came pretty late in the piece for me, obviously every young fellas dream is to play AFL footy, but my time wasn't right when I was 18 years of age," Stewart told Cats Media. 

"I went back and plied my trade at South Barwon, then halfway through my VFL season Stephen Wells, Shane O'Bree and Troy Selwood sat me down and said that it was something that might be a realistic option.

"It was not until I heard those words that I really thought it was a viable thing for me, the initial meetings with Stephen Wells were really positive. I was right in the Cats backyard playing in the VFL program, so the dialogue from himself and the other coaches was really consistent throughout that 2016 season.

"Having those guys steering me in the right direction and really helping me, garnering a great relationship from early days was something that I really cherish."

Despite those conversations, Stewart still did not know for sure if he would land at Geelong, after gaining interest from numerous other clubs during the draft process. 

"I did not know right up until that pick, I had some pretty strong interest from other clubs around the pick 30 to pick 50 mark so I was quite nervous," Stewart said. 

"As soon as pick 40 was announced and Luke Parker came and read it out, I knew it was going to be me.

"It is a moment I look back on with great fondness and a real sense of pride. I was surrounded by a great group of mates , all my family and my wife so it was a fantastic moment.

"It feels like an eternity ago, it is getting on 10 years now so to reminisce is really nice."

Another key figure that helped Stewart to realise his potential was Geelong champion, Matthew Scarlett who worked closely with the defender during his time in the VFL and with South Barwon. 

Stewart opened up on the impact Scarlett had not only on his football career, but on his development as a young man. 

"I owe him so much," Stewart said. 

"As I eluded to before, he was someone that had great belief in my capabilities that I may not have seen myself. I owe a lot to that man, he pushed me really hard.

"He saw my deficiencies and made me work on those, but he celebrated my strengths and made me back myself in.

"The impression and the impact that he had on me, not only as a footballer but as a young man, are some of the values that i hold true today. I can't speak highly enough of him."