The 20-year-old received the call-up last week to replace injured centre half-back Troy Chaplin, but with Chaplin ready and raring to go against the Swans on Sunday, Stewart is hopeful a pre-season chat with coach Mark Williams will help get him the nod.
“Earlier in the year Mark had a meeting with all the young boys and he talked to us about selection and that sort of thing,” Stewart said.
“He said that he doesn’t like dropping people after their first game, but I guess if there are people coming back from injury – there’s nothing you can do.
“Chappy [Chaplin] is a great player and he’s earned his spot, so he deserves to slip straight back in, but it depends on the match-ups and what the coaches think.
“I just might have to remind Choco about that conversation.”
Stewart, who missed half of last season after a shoulder reconstruction, picked up 18 touches and five marks playing across half back in the narrow loss to Geelong.
The Power’s 2006 second-round draft pick provided plenty of drive from defence and showed poise in his first game, even in the tense last quarter.
“It was daunting running out there on Thursday, but Mark rang me earlier in the week and said ‘Look, we’re backing you so just do what you do’ and that gave me the confidence to take them on and do my thing out there,” Stewart said.
“It was definitely good to get a few kicks and a few marks. That was my aim – just get a few touches and to hold my man down to as few goals as possible.”
Stewart lined up against Geelong debutant Ryan Gamble for much of the game, but also brushed shoulders with Paul Chapman, Cam Mooney and Steve Johnson in the Cats forward line.
“It was good to come up against the reigning premiers in my first game and I guess you couldn’t ask for a bigger and better game or better opposition, apart from a finals game,” he said.
“I think playing against Geelong and playing okay was good for my confidence and I’d like to see how I go against other opposition teams now.”
Stewart has already been compared to former Port Adelaide premiership defender Matthew Bishop, who helps mentor the young back line at Alberton.
“It’s good having Bish around the club,” he said.
“He’s taken a few back line meetings and taught a few of the younger boys how to position themselves as well as helping us with our spoiling and skills.
“Bish was very good at reading the play so he’s taught the younger guys how and when to run off in defence.”
With his first AFL game under his belt, Stewart is determined to consolidate his spot in the team and to build on the respect he has earned from his teammates.
“Playing the last four trials and also last week’s game, you do feel like you’re actually doing something for the club now instead of sitting back and playing in the SANFL,” he said.
“We’ll see how Chappy goes this week, but all I can do is train well and then its up to the coaches to select the side, but hopefully I stay in there and cement my position.”
