Greater Western Sydney's eighth debutant of the AFL season says much about the longevity of Kevin Sheedy's coaching career.
James Stewart, the 19-year-old taken with pick No.27 at the 2012 draft, will have his first taste of the AFL in what will be the final chapter of Sheedy's 29th season as a VFL/AFL head coach.
The Giants' away clash with Gold Coast will come over 32 years since Sheedy coached against Stewart's father, Craig, who played 115 VFL games for Collingwood before joining Richmond.
"To finally get that opportunity in Sheeds' last game as coach is something really special," James Stewart said of the 65-year-old who has flourished in an industry not known for its long-term appointments.
Stewart wasn't alive when Sheedy's Baby Bombers won a surprise premiership in 1993, let alone when his father was rucking for the Magpies while Sheedy was finding his feet in the coaching world.
But the 195cm key-position player is full of respect for the two men who have had the biggest influence on his fledgling AFL career.
"He (father Craig) was great support. He taught me and my brother from an early age the fundamental skills," said Stewart, who suffered stress fractures in his back two years ago and was on a limited training program for the first eight rounds of the 2013 season.
"He's been great support and I look to him for advice all the time.
"I haven't actually seen too much footage of him (playing). Every now and then a clip or two comes up on Footy Flashbacks and my brother and I have a bit of a giggle at that.
"... Sheeds has been great with his support and help."
Playing for Collingwood had been Stewart's dream, but he couldn't be more thrilled with his first season at GWS.
"It would have been a pretty special thing, to play at the same club as my dad. But really, all I was keen for was an opportunity," he said.
"Early on I thought I might struggle a little bit (in Sydney), being away from mum and dad and my younger brother, who I'm very close to.
"But I moved up with other draftees who are all from around Melbourne ... we're a pretty tight-knit group and that's made the transition really smooth."
