Ian Stewart was a football genius who could turn it on. Out of the centre, his precision passing, evasive skills and pace made him unstoppable. He is one of four triple Brownlow Medallists. Born on the 30th July 1943 Ian Stewart was a gifted centreman whose skilful performances dazzled football fans and the opposition but rarely satisfied him.
When a young Ian Stewart first played football for Hobart, few, including him, were to realise what was to lie ahead. While at High school Stewart had two seasons with Macalburn in the State School Old Boys. Here he tasted premiership sucess in 1960 and won an association best & fairest in 1961 before graduating the following year to Hobart seniors.
As a sixteen year old Stewart played in Hobart's 1962 TFL final series It was at a Victoria versus Tasmania match in 1962 when Geelong champion Alistair Lord lined up on a seventeen year old Ian Stewart in the centre. He had been chosen to represent Tasmania in only his first season with Hobart. After only 13 senior games with the Tigers Stewart made the move to the VFL being recruited to St Kilda for the 1963 season. When Stewart joined the Saints the shy young player went out and bought himself a club guernsey rather than ask for one. He was delighted to be playing with his idols Darrel Baldock and Verdun Howell. He suffered a bad knock in his first game but was able to battle on. He soon moved from the wing to take over the centre role from state rep player Lance Oswald. Other clubs became aware of his great talent and he became a frequent target. The secret of his game was immaculate balance and perfection in foot passing. Whether cornered in a pack or clear of his opponents, Stewart was always able to spot a team mate further afield and land a pass on his chest. Most of his passes found his skipper and fellow Tasmanian Darrel Baldock with whom he formed one of football's great partnerships. The Saints made the finals in Stewart's first year but were bundled out in the first semi. They failed to make the finals the following year but in 1965 it was a different story. St Kilda made the grand final but were easily defeated by Essendon.
Brownlow medallist Ian Stewart running out with the club captains on grand final day 1965. Darrel Baldock is pictured next to him.
	Stewart however showed what a class act he was by winning his first Brownlow on countback from North Melbourne's Noel Teasedale in 1965. He is shown here being presented with his Brownlow medal by the president of the VFL Sir Kenneth Luke.
	A Mobil player card photo of Ian Stewart receiving the Brownlow. When he was told he had won the Brownlow his response was "I don't deserve it. There are far better players than me who should have received this great honour."
Stewart was a star centreman renowned for his ball skills, spectacular marking and his ability on both sides of his body. The following season in 1966 was a stellar year for St Kilda and Stewart. Not only did the Saints win their first and only premiership but Stewart proved the previous years Brownlow success was no fluke by easily beating Carlton's star ruckman, John Nicholls.
	The 1966 St.Kilda premiership side - Ian Stewart is pictured on the right of the middle row and John Bingley is thrid from right in the same row. Darrel Baldock is third from right in the front row while Verdun Howell is third from left in the same row.
	He captained St.Kilda in 1969 and after an unsettled year with the club in 1970 he shocked the football world in 1971 by swapping with Richmond's Bill Barrot in one of the most talked about transfers in league history. This controversial deal saw Barrott's career decline but Stewart gained a new lease on life.
	In 1971, his first season with the Tigers, Stewart again won the Brownlow to become only the fourth player in history to win the coveted title a record third time. He combined brilliantly with another Tasmanian Royce Hart while with the Tigers. The following season saw the Tigers go down in a goal kicking shootout against Carlton. Because of injury Stewart started the game on the bench.
	1973 saw a different story with the Tigers reversing the result to completely outclass Carlton to win by five goals. Stewart was unanimously voted best afield. Injury stifled Stewart's career the following year, before a half hearted comeback in 1975 saw him finally retire as a player. Following this Stewart had coaching stints at South Melbourne (1976-77 & 1979-81) where he took them to the finals in his first season for the first time in seven years. He joined Carlton in 1978 as coach but retired after six weeks following a minor heart attack. The following season he rejoined South Melbourne. Once he retired from coaching he returned to St.Kilda in a managerial role.
In all Stewart played 207 league games; (St.Kilda 1963-70, 129 games 24 goals; Richmond 1971-75, 78 games 5 goals), played in two premierships and won three Brownlow medals with two different clubs in 1965,1966 and 1971. He won St Kilda's best & fairest twice in 1964 and 1966, Richmond's once in 1971, represented Victoria four times, was an all Australian player in 1966 and is an offical AFL Legend as well as a member of the AFL Hall of Fame. Coaching record: South Melbourne 1976-1977, 1979-1981 (111 games, 49 wins, 60 losses, 2 draws), Carlton 1978 (3 games, 1 win, 2 losses).
	One of Tassie's favourite sons, a quality centreman with a truly remarkable record. Ian Stewart from schoolboy star at Macalburn to AFL superstar. One of the AFL's all time greats! Ian Stewart is a member of the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame and Tasmanian Team of the Century along with other Tasmanian Football Legends such as James "Snowy Atkinson , Darrel Baldock , Rex Garwood , Horrie Gorringe , Bruce Carter , Arthur Hodgson , Terry Cashion , Roy Cazaly , Royce Hart , Peter Hudson and Laurie Nash .

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Ian Stewart - A Tasmanian Football Legend