Vic clubs circle uncontracted Giant James StewartMichael Gleeson
The Age
March 8, 2016Greater Western Sydney have already lost one key forward this summer when Cameron McCarthy walked out to head home to hang out on the beach with his mates in Perth. By the end of the season they could lose another, this time home to Victoria.
McCarthy not being at the club this year could and should mean that James Stewart plays more games and gets more chances to prove himself, which would mean his appeal as a player would also climb.
Stewart is out of contract and as yet discussions on a new contract have not begun.
Partly that is because the Giants' chief negotiator – Graeme Allen – is leaving the club. Partly it is because Stewart is yet to establish himself as a regular, consistent senior player and so is in no hurry to begin talking.
Jeremy Cameron remains the key position star and priority in the forward line. Jonathon Patton, now that he is fit once more, will play every game and re-establish himself with Cameron at the top of the pecking order. That leaves Stewart probably playing the McCarthy position as third forward but also spending a bit of time as relief ruck.
Last year he improved on his first year but he has still to consolidate his position in the team and to persuade them he is a long-term key position player.
He might still be peripheral at the Giants but he is very central for several Victorian clubs who are eyeing the son of Collingwood and Richmond player, Craig Stewart, as potentially a good key forward and potentially gettable at the end of the year.Key forwards always command more interest for trades than other positions, primarily because they are so much harder to find. So if Stewart proves capable of playing the role and proves amenable to moving he will readily find a home in Victoria at the end of the year.
Collingwood could have taken him as a father-son selection in the 2012 draft but chose not to nominate him. GWS then moved on the key position player with a second round draft pick – selection No.27.
Disappointed not to have been taken by Collingwood after spending time in their academy it would surprise if the Magpies pursued Stewart now, or that he had an interest in going there.
Richmond could shape as an interested party if for no other reason than Craig played there. Jack Riewoldt and Ty Vickery are their best arrangement forward with Ben Griffiths. They have hinted at using Troy Chaplin forward this year as well. The Tigers would not be the first thought as a club to chase him other than for the connection to his dad.While clubs such as Essendon and St Kilda would look likely to be in the market for that type of player the most logical destination for Stewart, should he choose to go, would be to follow the path of other decamping Giants and reunite with former GWS recruiter Stephen Silvagni at Carlton.
Silvagni clearly liked Stewart – he took him with pick 27 – and the Blues would like another tall able to relief ruck. Harry McKay will miss months this year with a back stress fracture but he is viewed as a long-term key forward along with Charlie Curnow. Stewart would potentially complement that pair.
The most important question to be answered first is, will Stewart make it? Victorian clubs that already have interest in him believe he will, but this year should provide a clearer answer to that.
The next question is, will he stay or go? The answer to that would most likely reside in the fact he is always going to be behind Cameron and Patton in the pecking order and the dollars available to play at a club that brings him home will be more than those available to stay in western Sydney. History would suggest that equation normally means the player leaves.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-james-stewarts-giant-year-20160307-gncsl4.html
