Geelong are doing their best to hose down any injury concerns over veteran star Tom Stewart. The 33-year-old raised alarm bells late in the clash with Brisbane on Thursday night when he was spotted limping and took himself to the bench with what appeared to be a hamstring issue.
Stewart's Bizarre Explanation
Speaking to Channel 7 after the Cats' impressive victory over the back-to-back premiers, the champion defender was in a fine and playful mood, insisting there was no concern. When pressed about the potential injury, he came up with a somewhat bizarre explanation.
“Nah, all good, mate. Corked myself,” he said with a grin. “Nah, kneed myself in the hamstring, so I just gave myself a corkie.”
Star Seven commentator Hamish McLachlan found it all a little hard to swallow: “Have you really?” But Stewart stuck by the story. “Gave myself a corkie. That’s how good I’m going.”
Stewart was then shown vision of the moment he appeared to pull up sore and reach for his hamstring. “Just wanted an extra 30 seconds. Nah, seriously, sweet. Do you want me to go and run around ... I’ll be fine,” he said.
Teammates and Coaches React
Even his teammate Shaun Mannagh — who had a career-best game with 30 disposals and five goals — was not convinced. AFL great Nick Riewoldt said to Mannagh, “You’re calling BS,” while Mannagh laughed and pointed to the vision: “You look great, mate.” Stewart responded: “I’m tired. I’m old, man.”
Coach Chris Scott also stuck by the “corkie” story, but it should be noted that Geelong have quite a reputation for being cagey about their injuries. “I spoke to him on the ground and he said he’s got a little corkie in his calf,” Scott said after the game. “He assures me he’s fine, but I’m often the last to know. We don’t have any injury issues.”
Potential Impact on Geelong
If Geelong were to lose Stewart, it would obviously be a major blow. Stewart was one of the Cats’ best on Thursday, turning back the clock with a 28-disposal game and some amazing acts of courage. The Cats have a blockbuster clash with Sydney next week on Saturday at GMHBA Stadium, and Stewart would be a huge loss given the Swans’ offensive weapons this year.
While the club remains optimistic, the incident has sparked debate among fans and pundits alike. Whether it’s a simple corkie or something more serious, Geelong will be hoping their star defender is fit to face the Swans in what promises to be a thrilling contest.
