Daniel “Snowy” Stewart stood 200cm tall, but those who loved him measure him by something else entirely.

The former Port Adelaide key forward, who passed away last month aged 37, played 36 games between 2010 and 2013 after joining the Power with pick 35 in the 2009 Rookie Draft. Injuries, particularly to his hips and shoulders, may have cut his AFL career short, but they never dented his spirit.

Dom Cassisi, who captained the club during Stewart’s time, saw what he was made of from the first session.

“From the outset Snowy was prepared to show a huge work ethic with no fuss,” Cassisi said.

“If it is evident that they will push themselves in each session, with no shortcuts, they are respected from the outset. This was Snowy, and he would do it with a smile on his face and an infectious sense of humour.

“Snowy had all the physical attributes of a tall, mobile forward to have a long and successful AFL career.”

Former Head Fitness Coach Cam Falloon remembers a young athlete who was a privilege to watch train.

“I have vivid memories of him being just a beautiful athlete and a beautiful runner,” Falloon said.

“Watching Snowy run 150s around the bend was a sight to behold. He was a great club man. He had time for everyone around the club, always smiling and always grateful.”

The two stayed close after footy, and that friendship became a mentorship, and then a business. Falloon backed Stewart and former Port Adelaide player Matt Thomas to open BFT studios, and a decade on, the pair built five of them.

Thomas arrived at Alberton in the same boat, two young men trying to earn their place.

“Me and Snowy became housemates pretty quickly and were almost inseparable,” Thomas said.

“We became each other’s confidants, each other’s support and, in many ways, each other’s family. He might not have always realised how good he was, but the people who played alongside him certainly did. He was someone you walked taller playing alongside.”

Off the field, Cassisi recalls Stewart as someone who always cared and connected with others.

“He cared about everyone before himself and there is no way you could be flat around Snowy,” he said.

“His infectious personality would bring great energy to us all.”

Family was always Stewart’s anchor. He leaves behind wife Laura and sons Bernie and Lando.

“How lucky are those boys to have had a dad, this giant of a man with a huge smile and a huge heart, but so gentle, so caring and so fun,” Falloon said.

“He always showed up, whether that was for his family, his friends or work.” Thomas said.

“He’d still turn up, give everything he had and never once complain. He used to say that when his back was against the wall, that was where he felt most comfortable.”

Thomas treasures one of his final memories, running together at BFT Run Club only weeks ago. “I said, ‘Mate, I reckon that’s the best I’ve ever seen you look.’ And I meant it. He wanted to be fit and strong so he could keep showing up as the best possible dad to his boys.”

Now the BFT community has launched Sweat for Snowy, aiming for $1.5 million to support Laura and the boys.

“I most definitely encourage everyone to try and find a way to support Snowy’s young family,” Cassisi said.

“Snowy was the sort of bloke that would do anything for others. We all have a chance to pass that forward in memory of him.”

Asked to sum up Stewart in a sentence, Falloon didn’t hesitate.

“He is one of the greatest human beings that you will ever meet. That’s it.”

Thomas offered the final word.

“We started out as teammates, became housemates, then business partners, but above everything else, we were always mates.”

If you would like to support the Sweat for Snowy fundraiser, please click here.