Geelong AFL defender Tom Stewart remembers the moment that changed his sporting life as if it were yesterday.
It was September 2013 and the then 20-year-old was basking in the glory of back-to-back Geelong Football League premierships for local powerhouse South Barwon.
Co-coach Matthew Scarlett decided the time was right to deliver some home truths.
The legendary Cats' fullback had long thought that Stewart should be playing at a much higher level.
"He came to me after he'd had a few cans and said I was wasting my time," said Stewart.
"So I thought I might as well give it a crack."
Scarlett's recollection of the discussion wasn't quite so blunt.
"He obviously had a lot of talent, his passion for the game and just how competitive and how good he was really was what stood out to me," Scarlett told AAP.
"He was committed to his footy, loved playing with his mates and he's a really good competitor which I liked.
"He's had to work really hard in the last couple of years to get into AFL condition and he's done that."
As a teenager, Stewart played for the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup but, by his own admission, was nowhere near ready to transition straight to the AFL.
"I did love footy as a junior, just fell out of it a bit when I was 18 or 19," he said.
"I went back to South Barwon, played with my mates and had a good time.
"But obviously I'm back in love with it now and loving every minute of it."
The former carpenter is the perfect example of the late-bloomer.
After taking Scarlett's advice, Stewart cut his teeth in the Cats' VFL lineup.
He has progressed seamlessly into the AFL this season, playing 18 games in his debut year.
As soon as he had recovered from a mid-season facial injury he was straight back into the Geelong senior lineup.
With back-line stalwarts Andrew Mackie and Tom Lonergan retiring at season's end, Stewart will will be asked to play more of a leadership role in 2018 and beyond.
Scarlett, now the Cats' defensive coach, has no doubt the 24-year-old is also ready for that challenge.
"Tom sees the game, he's a student of the game, he's really smart and uses his voice well out on the field," said the legendary fullback.
Another of Stewart's strengths is his versatility.
At 190cm and 88kg, he is also quick to enough to play on small forwards, which will be extremely valuable in the qualifying final against Richmond on September 8, as the Tigers have a host of fleet-footed attacking options.
