IT HAS taken two decades and a football career spanning four states but Port Adelaide big man Daniel Stewart is finally on the verge of realising his AFL dream.

Stewart, 20, took up football as a six-year-old back in his home state of Victoria and his passion for the game grew when his family relocated to Western Australia.

He spent six years across the Nullarbor before returning to Victoria, where he played several seasons with the Eastern Ranges in the U18 competition.

The 201cm utility was overlooked in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft and decided to make the move to Queensland with the promise of sun and surf.

Stewart joined the Labrador Tigers Football Club in Queensland and took up a weekday job as a builder’s labourer.

He finished the year as runner-up in the NAB AFLQ Rising Star award, but was once again overlooked in the draft.

“I played okay footy up in Queensland, but I got some feedback (from recruiters) that the reason I wasn’t picked up in the draft was because it was just an average league up there,” Stewart said.

“A few SANFL clubs had showed some interest in me, so I thought I’d come down to Adelaide and give it a crack.”

The journeyman packed his bags again and took up with SANFL side North Adelaide.

Stewart, who pulled beers behind the club-owned bar to support himself, impressed in his debut season with the Roosters and was snapped up by the Power with pick No.35 in the 2009 NAB AFL Rookie Draft.

The mature-age recruit started the season brightly but experienced a form slump mid-year, which saw him spend a month in the reserves.

He returned to the seniors in the latter part of the season and starred with a four-goal haul in North Adelaide’s elimination final loss to Woodville-West Torrens.

Stewart was optimistic of retaining his spot at Alberton next season, but a post-season meeting with coach Mark Williams and football operations manager Peter Rohde did little to boost his confidence.

“I had my meeting with Rohdey and Choco right after the [SANFL] elimination final and they told me they’d get back to me,” Stewart said.

“They’ve left me hanging, so I was stressing out for three weeks wondering what was going to happen.”

Last week Stewart’s manager called with the good news.

“I was ecstatic when my manager called and said the club was going to upgrade me to the senior list,” he said.

“It’s a weight off my shoulders. It can get a bit stressful during the year when you’re not playing well and you start to wonder where you’re going to be next year.

“Luckily, I finished off the season well and performed during the finals, which really helped my case.”

Stewart, who turns 21 next week, wasted no time in celebrating his promotion buying a new car as a birthday present to himself.

Next week also marks the start of pre-season training for Port Adelaide’s first to third year players.

A spot as second-ruck behind Dean Brogan beckons for Stewart.

“I want to stay injury free and learn as much as I can over the pre-season. Once the NAB Cup comes around I’d like to be able to get a game and see that happens,” he said.

“Any opportunity to play AFL whether that be in the ruck or up forward I’m going to take.”