10:56 AM Tue 11 Aug, 2009
Stuart Dew following his 200th AFL game played in Round 5, 2009.
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After 12 seasons of AFL football, Stuart Dew has announced he will retire at the end of the 2009 season.
Making his debut with Port Adelaide in 1997, Dew played 180 games with the Power before initially retiring at the end of the 2006 season. After a one-year absence from the game Dew was drafted to Hawthorn in the 2007 National Draft.
The 29-year-old played 15 games in his comeback year in 2008 and 11 games this season, including his 200th game in Round 5 this year.
Dew was a key part of Hawthorn’s 2008 premiership, having reached the ultimate success for the first time with Port Adelaide in 2004. As the only member of the playing group who had previously played in a premiership, Dew bought experience, maturity and leadership to the group.
A natural reader of the play and a booming left-foot, Dew’s time at Hawthorn will always be remembered for the instrumental role he played in the Hawks grand final win.
He proved to be the game turner in the third quarter – he beat three opponents to get a handball off to Mark Williams for a goal before kicking two majors of his own in a five-minute display.
Dew has been an enormous acquisition to the Hawthorn Football Club and his effect on the youngest list in the AFL has been significant.
Stuart Dew
Recruited from: Central District/Port Adelaide
Drafted: 1996 National Draft zone selection to Port Adelaide, selected at no.45 in 2007 National Draft
AFL debut: Round 14, 1997 (Port Adelaide), Round 1, 2008 (Hawthorn)
Games: 208* (Port Adelaide 180)
Goals: 265* (Port Adelaide 245)
Player honours: Hawthorn premiership 2008; Port Adelaide leading goalkicker 2002, premiership 2004, pre-season premiership 2001, 2002
* Games and goals up until Round 19, 2009
for hawthornfc.com.au
