But after five months of gruelling training and another influx of promising young talent Stewart found himself back in the pack of players jostling for an opportunity at AFL level.
“I actually had a good pre-season and was training well. I played the first NAB Cup game against Sydney, but probably didn’t do enough to stay in for the rest of the competition,” Stewart told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“The back six did pretty well in the first half of the year, so I couldn’t really get in.”
Stewart, 22, watched on as newcomers Hamish Hartlett, Matthew Broadbent and Danny Meyer jumped ahead of him in the queue of capable half-back players.
The Power eventually settled with Hartlett, Steve Salopek and Nathan Krakouer in the new-look defence and Stewart was sent back to SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens.
“It was looking pretty tough there at one stage. I thought jeez, I’m not going to get back in here,” Stewart said.
“It’s tough not training with the boys in the [Power] squad on the Friday, but you’ve just got to try and take it one week at a time in the SANFL even though it’s not really where you want to be.
“The coaches told me just to knuckle down, concentrate on beating my man in the SANFL and a spot will open up.”
Stewart displayed some consistent form in the SANFL, but by the halfway mark of the season had still not so much as been an emergency in the Port Adelaide line-up.
In round 13, with the likes of Salopek, Hartlett, Daniel Motlop, Chad Cornes and Shaun Burgoyne out of the side, Stewart’s name was tossed-up in the selection mix.
Stewart, buoyed by his inclusion in the Power’s 25-man-squad for the first time this season, starred for the Eagles finishing with 26 possessions and 13 marks.
He was rewarded the following week with his first AFL game since round 22 last year.
“It’s great to be back in the team. It’s been a long start to the year after playing the first 13 games in the SANFL,” he said.
“It was tough to get back in, but I’m happy to be in now and hoping to consolidate my spot.”
Stewart took a couple of weeks to readjust to the speed of AFL, but received high praise from coach Mark Williams following the Power’s round 16 win over West Coast.
“After the game I said to the players that it was the best game Paul has played for the club. He looked like an AFL footballer,” Williams said.
“He’s been around the mark and played cameo roles here and there, but I thought he played a pretty consistent game all day.”
Stewart, who is averaging four tackles a game compared to just one last season, said some simple instructions from backline coach Adam Kingsley had given him the confidence to play good AFL football.
“In that game against West Coast I felt comfortable, more comfortable than all last year,” Stewart said.
“Kingers isn’t asking me to do anything special. He just wants me to beat my man and play life and death football at a high intensity. That’s all I tried to do and it’s always good to please the coach.”
Stewart, who is contracted until the end of 2010, is in his third year at Alberton and said he felt ready to become a regular contributor for the Power.
“I’m used to the daily and weekly routines. I just want to string a few more games together now and, hopefully, stay in the side for the rest of the year leading into next year.”
