Stewart had 20 possessions and nine marks in a strong and aggressive game in Roosters colours.
Playing at deep forward and pinch-hitting in the ruck, he kicked 3.1 as one of North’s top contributors against Woodville-West Torrens.
Development coach Tyson Edwards told portadelaidefc.com.au Stewart had returned to his ‘best’ SANFL form and the task for him now was to continue it at both local and AFL levels.
“'Snowy' was more like the typical player we know him to be at SANFL level – heavily involved, aggressive, he stood Luke Thompson from the Crows when he was forward and out-marked him," said Edwards.
“Generally we’d like to think he was much better than his opponents overall and his stats show great improvement; he finished with 20 possessions, eight inside 50s and three goals.
“It was a good game and it would be good to see him do that at AFL level.”
With Andrew Moore playing at AFL level, Nathan Blee was the only other North Adelaide-aligned player to don the Roosters jumper this weekend.
Edwards said it was another typical game from Blee up forward and on a wing.
Blee again 23 disposals and kicked a goal, however needs to maintain focus on his running and attack on the football.
Nick Salter played up forward for the Eagles and it would appear that his reduced fitness levels are the only thing holding him back from tearing a game open.
Salter returned from a foot injury last month and has been working his way back towards full match fitness.
“Salts played his usual forward role and his opponent played very close to him all day which tested his patience – we see that as a good thing,” said Edwards.
“He got involved in the game, finished with 3.1 without having the number of inside 50s from his teammates that he had a few weeks ago.
“If he was fitter he could probably get more involved but - as we know - he’s coming from a long way back fitness-wise.”
After his omission from the Power line up last weekend, Campbell Heath played his first SANFL game for the Eagles and was strong across the forward and defensive lines.
“Campbell was pretty good, he didn’t have a heap of influence until the last quarter but generally used the ball pretty well and looked to take risks and take on the game,” said Edwards.
“Overall it was a pretty good game from him, I was really happy and it was good to see him go back with the right attitude and work hard for a recall.”
Norwood took on South Adelaide at Noarlunga and Mason Shaw and Tom Clurey both lined up for the Panthers' reserves.
Development coach Stuart Cochrane was pleased with the progress each has shown since being drafted to Port Adelaide at the end of last year.
“Last time I saw Mason he was pretty ordinary, but knowing the work that he has been doing over the past few weeks to try and get some confidence back has clearly paid off,” Cochrane told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“The work in contests that he’s doing – he took four contested marks - is starting to show, and his run and efforts in attack have also improved.
“He’s making inroads and showing good signs.”
Clurey’s development as a key back has caught Cochrane’s eye, and he is excited by what the young defender could offer Port Adelaide in the future.
“Glenelg had the bye this week so Tommy was down playing with Mason under the guest player rule,” Cochrane explained.
“He had 19 possessions from full back, four marks, and is pretty good form at the moment.
“When you compare it to seven or eight weeks ago when he was still playing twos, he’s come such a long way.
“He’s putting pressure on his opponent, effecting spoils, looks decisive and attacks the footy and the man.”
In the League match, Matt Thomas and Darren Pfeiffer lined up for Norwood.
Thomas continued his good form for the Redlegs with another 24-possession effort.
“Matty had a benchmark game, all his hustle and bustle in close was on song,” said Cochrane.
“He’s always doing something around the stoppages and is putting heaps of pressure on opponents.”
After several weeks struggling for Norwood, Pfeiffer showed some of the signs he could be returning to his usual gameplay with a 16-disposal effort.
“Pfeiffer improved on past weeks and he showed more intensity and was really hard at the player in his tackling,” said Cochrane.
Development Manager Daniel Healy observed Sam Colquhoun and Jack Hombsch playing for Central District and Sturt respectively at Elizabeth Oval.
Both players were impressive and will be vying for selection to replaced injured senior defenders Jackson Trengove, Dom Cassisi and Jasper Pittard.
“Sam played on a wing and half back and started like a house on fire with eight touches in the first quarter,” Healy told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“He ran inside 50 and was looking really dangerous at that stage.
“After that he quietened down and that was partly due to Sturt starting to get more involved in the game.
“Hombschy played on Justin Hardy who was last year’s leading goal kicker and he didn’t get out marked once - he completely covered him!” said Healy.
“Generally he was really good, and we just want to see him work on being a bit more convincing in his spoilage work.
“From where he’s been though, he’s clearly on the way up.”
Healy was also the observer for Port Adelaide’s narrow loss to West at Richmond Oval.
Youngsters Ben Newton and Danny Butcher were good performers for the Magpies..
“Ben played on-ball all night and a little bit forward,” said Healy.
“He was probably the most pleasing player on the night from our boys and was tough and clean at stoppages.
“I reckon it was another step forward for him and he’s be pretty happy to do that against his old mob in West.
“Danny Butcher played on West’s Silverlock for most of the night and did a really, really good job on him while he was playing forward, and kept him very quiet as well.
“He had only nine possessions himself but had some really good tough passages.
“(Magpies coach) Kenny McGregor pumped him up last week after a good performance and he lived up to it again this week.”
Aaron Young had a “solid game” according to Healy, but still needs to work on “stamping his authority” on matches if he is to be considered for selection at AFL level.
Rookie Justin Hoskin and forward John Butcher had quiet games again.
SANFL Player stats breakdown - Round 7
| Player | Disp. | Marks | Tack. | Clearances | H/O | I 50s | R 50s | Score |
| B. Newton | 18 | 2 | 2 | 4 | - | 3 | 2 | - |
| A. Young | 18 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1.0 |
| J. Hoskin# | 14 | 5 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 2 | - |
| D. Butcher# | 9 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 2 | - | - |
| J. Butcher | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | - | 1.1 |
| S. Colquhoun | 22 | 8 | 2 | 4 | - | 2 | 4 | 1.0 |
| D. Stewart | 20 | 9 | - | - | 5 | 8 | - | 3.1 |
| N. Blee | 23 | 5 | - | 1 | 1 | 5 | - | 1.0 |
| C. Heath | 24 | 11 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 5 | - |
| N. Salter | 10 | 6 | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | 3.1 |
| M. Thomas | 24 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 2.0 |
| D. Pfeiffer# | 16 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 1 | - |
| T. Clurey*^ | 19 | 4 | - | 2 | - | 2 | 4 | - |
| M. Shaw* | 10 | 5 | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | 2.0 |
* denotes Reserves player
^ denotes 'guest' player for bottom-ranked reserves club
# denotes rookie-listed player
