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Find your frequency hereDoes Tom Stewart have a case to answer?
Jaiden Sciberras • June 8th, 2025 1:45 pm
Does Geelong's Tom Stewart have anything to answer for following a major collision with Suns skipper Noah Anderson?
The Cats reinstated themselves in the top four, claiming a strong four-goal win over the Gold Coast Suns in sideways conditions, however it’s Stewart’s major late-game bump that stole the talks of the game.
With just under eight minutes to play and the game all but wrapped up in Geelong’s favour, the ball was lobbed out of the Suns’ back 50, flying over the head of Noah Anderson. Tracking the ball overhead, Anderson slowed in attempt to collect the football and was met by an oncoming Stewart, cleaning him up with a strong hip and shoulder to the ribs of Anderson.
The Sun was taken from the ground to complete a HIA as a result of his head colliding with the ground, however Stewart’s action did not enforce any head-high contact.
Following the contest, Anderson was taken to hospital for checks on his rib region, and has since been cleared of any major damage.
Speaking post-game, Geelong coach Chris Scott believes Stewart orchestrated a picture-perfect bump.
“The contact with Anderson… the AFL has done a really good job over the years of shifting the zeitgeist around the way you should approach contest like that,” Scott said.
“Anyone that understands the modern game would be really impressed with the way he approached that contact. The early decision to come forward, full speed, looking to win the ball first.
“When you can’t win the ball, and this is the part the AFL have been really clear with and I applaud them for this description, now you have a duty of care to the oncoming player.
“If you are in a position where contact is unavoidable, you need to be very careful, so cues like doing everything you can to avoid head contact, don’t leave the ground, turn your body to protect yourself, any malice or intent to hurt the other guy or hit him in the head and you’re in big trouble.
“But, if it’s a protective action, where contact is inevitable and you don’t get him in the head, then you’ve done everything you can.
“I feel for Noah, everyone loves him, he is a gun player, and it was some pretty heavy contact to the ribs, but it was to the body. That is the way the game has evolved.
“It used to be, if you had your elbow in and you hip and shoulder a guy, it doesn’t matter where you get him, you’re gong to be okay. That’s changed, you can’t hit them in the head now.
“I thought his duty of care to Noah was as good as it could have been, and he was good enough to hit him in the body.”
Aligning with the coach’s views, former Demon David Schwarz believes Stewart has no concerns over a potential ban, claiming that the bump was entirely legal.
“I reckon he’s alright,” Ox told SEN’s Point of View.
“I think if he gets weeks, our game is in serious trouble.
“He can’t get a week for that. He has done everything right.
“As Chris said, he’s tucked his elbow in, he hasn’t hit him in the head, he’s winded him, he has a shoulder, that’s what a hip and shoulder is!
“You can’t tackle a bloke if he doesn’t have the footy. I reckon the game is in for a very interesting couple of days.
“Anderson has been sent to hospital for scans on his ribs, not concussion. He’s hurt his ribs.
“There is no damage.”
The Cats face the Bombers next Saturday afternoon, with all likelihood suggesting Stewart will be free to compete.
