Geelong is the home of many young and courageous AFL stars, and this year Geelong’s veteran, Mathew Stokes, has proved to the football community that he deserves to join that list.

The 28-year-old has pushed his way to the top of the pack through hard work and determination.

This year, Stokes’ has injected a different style of play into the Cats game, a style fuelled with drive, accuracy and punch. There hasn’t been a match where Stokes hasn’t delivered a high performance, averaging 26 disposals this year. He sees his success on the field as giving back to the club, that he says, has given so much to him.

The 2005 draftee from Darwin couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.  

"I love this club, I love this town, and I couldn't picture myself playing anywhere else," Stokes told News Limited.

"I feel like this club has given me everything I could have dreamed of, and a career I am so happy to be able to have at a club like this.

"I still feel indebted to this club for standing by me at a time when it might have been easier to cut me. I still feel like they have given me everything and I haven't given much back."

Early in the preseason last year the humble star was told once again he would have the opportunity to play in the midfield, a position that he has always wanted to play. However, he knew from previous years that it wasn’t wise to get his hopes up.  

"I thought, 'Yeah, I have heard it all before', but I didn't say anything,” Stokes said.

After practicing in the midfield over the preseason and watching tapes after tapes to improve his game, Stokes was given the nod to take position in the middle. This time, he was more than prepared, he was ready to make it his position and he wasn’t going to let it go.

"They told me I had to be prepared to do the work. So I watched lots of tapes and edits and learnt more and more every week,” Stokes explained.

"I have surprised myself in a sense with the consistency. I thought maybe I could do it for a game or two, but it is the confidence instilled in my teammates that has helped me most.

“There used to be a time where I would get kicked out of the middle if I went in there. Now they let me stay in there. It's good!"

Geelong’s midfield coach, Blake Caracella, always knew Stokes had the ability and speed to play in the midfield, but there was never the room due to the Cats high stock of players.

"With the evolution of the team we thought potentially James Bartel and Joel Corey might be spending time at half-back, and there was suddenly an opportunity for Stokesy. He is a tough little bugger, he reads the game well, he uses the ball and he trained there through the pre-season and just got better and better," Caracella said.

Since his change of role, Stokes hasn’t looked back. Every week he has the confidence that lets him push himself to the limit. He says gaining the motivation was simple, due to the support that surrounded him.

"I think motivating myself was easy because I didn't want to let myself down again. I got into trouble a few years ago and I thought, 'I want to get back for everyone who stood by me at the club - the coaches, my family and friends'.

This year Stokes wanted to do something for himself, and that was to perform at his absolute best.

"At the start of this pre-season I just thought, stuff it, I just want to do something for myself. I am better than I showed last year, and I just wanted to prove myself right.”

"It was just about that satisfaction in myself that I am producing regularly and being consistent. All I wanted to do was be satisfied with myself, and it's going OK."

It is not only Stokes’ performance on the field that matches that of an AFL legend, it is the work he does and the support he gives to the indigenous community that makes him one of the most admirable players in AFL.  

"When you are a young player you forget you are a role model, but when you are in indigenous player it's so much more. The impact you can have on communities out there is amazing,” Stokes explained.

"It's been a passion of mine for three or four years, so we have got the Closing the Gap program ... and it is something once I have finished footy I can hopefully do full-time."