Paul Stewart Biography

Paul Stewart is on the lookout for a new club after being delisted by the Power.

Stewart played 14 games for the Power in 2016, with his last appearance coming in the 67-point loss to the Sydney Swans in round 20 at the SCG.

Stewart said he hadn't given up continuing his career as a delisted free agent, but is also keen on a career as a player manager.

"My body feels the best it’s been for a while, so I’d be keen to continue playing, but I'm also really interested in staying involved in the game as a player manager or by helping with player development," Stewart said.

"It's been a good 10 years at the club, and I've been proud to play one game for the club let alone my 100th this year."

After his sister Lisa was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, Paul Stewart has become a staunch advocate for blood donation.

"You see Red Cross everywhere but until something happens to your family or someone close to you, you don't realise how important it is," he said.

"It hits home."

Lisa Stewart found out in September 2013 that she had the rare but dangerous bone marrow disease, which stops the marrow from producing enough new cells, and endured between 40 to 50 blood transfusions while she battled the disease at its fiercest.

Lisa is now in remission and has urged people to donate and become the "face of survival".

"It wasn't for the blood donations I honestly wouldn't be here … people just don't think it will happen to them," she said.

"I just want to encourage people to donate and hopefully be a face of survival.

"It's roughly an hour out of someone's day and one unit can save roughly three lives … one in 30 people donate and one in there need blood.
"It will affect most people and you will know someone who needs that blood."

Paul Stewart turns his back on free agency to sign a two-year deal with Port Adelaide that will keep him at the Power until the end of 2016.

"My year has been a bit up and down with injury but I've really enjoyed the chance to play at AFL level when I've been called up," Stewart said.

"I've got real trust in Ken Hinkley, Garry Hocking running the SANFL side and the direction the club is going with our footy structure."

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley will call up young defender Nathan Blee for the away clash with AFL pacesetter Geelong on Saturday, replacing Paul Stewart who suffered a broken arm against Adelaide last week.

"We're hoping he will chop out some of their talls," Hinkley said.

"But we are not ruling out he could play in the midfield or even go forward."

Port Adelaide has secured the services of three key youngsters in Robbie Gray, Hamish Hartlett and Paul Stewart, all of whom have signed new deals with the club.

"I'm very settled here in Adelaide and have really enjoyed my first few seasons here at the Power," Gray said.

"We have an exciting young list that is eager to play finals football and I certainly want to be a part of that.

"The club picked me late in the draft and put a lot of time in developing me as a player and I am very thankful of that."