After falling out of favour with coaches late in 2018, James Stewart suited up for one VFL game and not at all for the senior side at all last year as he battled and eventually lost his season to a persistent groin complaint. As either a third tall forward or a full forward, he has not produced startable scores over six seasons at two clubs. The departure of Mitch W. Brown adds something to Stewart's job security if he can get his body right, though with groin injuries that is usually easier said than done. Then again, if you were the Dons hierarchy you might want to look at the kids coming through more than the journeyman with the low ceiling. Ignore.
How the groin was done
After falling out of favour with coaches late in 2018, James Stewart suited up for one VFL game and not at all for the senior side at all last year as he battled and eventually lost his season to a persistent groin complaint. As either a third tall forward or a full forward, he has not produced startable scores over six seasons at two clubs. The departure of Mitch W. Brown adds something to Stewart's job security if he can get his body right, though with groin injuries that is usually easier said than done. Then again, if you were the Dons hierarchy you might want to look at the kids coming through more than the journeyman with the low ceiling. Ignore.
Rear window for Stewart
Injury to Joe Daniher last year meant James Stewart had to play more down the spine than his previous third tall forward role. He did not respond enough for the coaches' liking, as he ranked outside the top 50 for contested marks and spent the second half of the season in the reserves. Only in the VFL finals series did he start showing the physicality required of a key forward. There are no guarantees that Daniher will return for the new season, so Stewart may end up sitting behind Mitch W. Brown for a CHF spot if that is the depth chart he is now on. His other option is to add ruck support to his game to jump past the two second ruck/forwards ahead of him on that queue. Either way, his history shows he is not a fantasy factor as his game is not broad enough.
The man who shot for goal
A month in the VFL was enough for the Dons to have faith in James Stewart to play seniors, and he stayed there for the rest of 2017 in a third tall forward role. He booted multiple goals in eight of 15 outings, reaching 15 disposals only three times. As is typical of old-fashioned third talls - and Stewart at 196cm is a throwback to a previous age given the modern trend of small key position players - his fantasy scoring is way too reliant on the +12 play of mark-kick-goal to interest fantasy coaches.
