Geelong Cats AFL player Tom Stewart suspended for four weeks after sickening hit on Dion Prestia

Star Geelong defender Tom Stewart has been handed a four-match suspension by the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night after his sickening hit on Dion Prestia in the Cats’ thrilling three-point win over the Tigers on Saturday. 

Just 45 minutes of evidence and 30 minutes of deliberation was needed to determine Stewart’s bump that left Prestia heavily concussed was worthy of the huge suspension. 

He’ll be eligible to return in the Cats crucial clash at home against the Western Bulldogs on July 30.

Geelong counsel Ben Ihle had argued three weeks was a sufficient ban for the hit, while the AFL’s counsel fought for a four-week ban.

Stewart attended the online hearing, but did not give evidence.

Instead, Ihle was left to argue that the fact Stewart had just 0.39 seconds to make a decision was a reason for a lesser suspension. 

‘He made the wrong decision, but it was less than half a second,’ Ihle said during the hearing.

Tom Stewart went on to star for the Cats in their thrilling three-point win

‘He has expressed his genuine concern for Prestia and his genuine disappointment in that split-second decision that he made because it’s something out of character. The remorse was immediate and resounding.’

The AFL were more forthright on the off-the-ball hit. 

‘The bump was delivered by Stewart at speed after he’d gone past the ball with Prestia unsuspecting and vulnerable to being injured,’ said Pane in the AFL’s evidence.

‘The injury suffered by Prestia, concussion, is a serious injury in itself. It’s the very type of action which can cause serious injury.’

While recognising Stewart’s obvious contrition and remorse over the hit – which was visible throughout the game –  the AFL Tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson said the league was left with little choice but to hand down a big ban for the serious on-field act.

Prestia was checked over by the Richmond Tigers medical staff but couldn’t continue 

‘The bump was late. He (Prestia) was wide open, exposed and vulnerable,’ he said when delivering the news that Stewart would be suspended for four games.

‘Stewart had sufficient time to see Prestia had not taken possession (of the ball). He ran past the ball and made a conscious, albeit split-second, decision to bump Prestia at speed. 

‘The degree of carelessness was high. He breached his duty of care by some margin,’ said Gleeson

Television cameras caught the off-the-ball incident and Stewart will not return until July 30 

In the AFL’s official injury update on Tuesday, Prestia was ruled out of this weekend’s clash with West Coast, but there was no estimated return as yet as he deals with the concussion. 

Geelong used two suspensions handed down last season to push Stewart’s case for a lighter sentence.

They were Sam Reid’s (of the Giants) bump on Nat Fyfe that saw him miss two weeks, and Patrick Dangerfield’s bump on Jake Kelly that landed him a three-match ban, but the AFL ruled they weren’t ‘comparable’.

Prestia was left heavily concussed after the hit by Stewart at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

‘Given what is known about the consequences of blows to the head, all reasonable steps must be taken to prevent avoidable blows to the head. Mr. Stewart accepts this was avoidable head-high contact,’ said Gleeson.

Stewart continued to show his remorse when talking to reporters after the tribunal’s decision. 

‘As I said from the start, I accept the Tribunal’s decision, I was left at their discretion’ Stewart told reporters after the hearing.

‘Obviously disappointed in my actions and I had to own that as a man; still, my immediate response was Dion’s wellness and that of his family that have had to experience this.

Tom Stewart said he was ‘disappointed in his actions’ which led to the four-match ban

‘As disappointed and disheartened as I am right now, it’s still not about me, it’s about Dion’s wellbeing and how he is,’ said Stewart.

For now, Prestia will miss Richmond’s game against West Coast, while Stewart will miss Geelong’s upcoming matches against North Melbourne, Melbourne, Carlton and Port Adelaide.

Calls for a send-off rule were batted away from the AFL after the incident. 

‘The send-off rule is not something that is being considered. Our position remains the same.’