WHEN Paul Stewart left Port Adelaide at the end of 2016, Sam Powell-Pepper hadn’t yet been drafted by the Power, Chad Cornes was coaching the Magpies and Matthew Nicks was Ken Hinkley’s senior assistant.

Powell-Pepper has now played 38 games in two seasons, Matthew Lokan is now at the helm of the Magpies and Nicks is now working at GWS, but not much else has changed in Stewart’s eyes.

Last month it was announced that Stewart would return to Alberton to work in a dual role as coach of the club’s Next Generation Academy and as part of its player welfare and development department.

“It’s great to be back,” Stewart told portadelaidefc.com.au.

“Two years away from the club, back playing SANFL and working, and I learnt a lot and enjoyed my time but driving back here on my first day was a bit surreal – coming back here as an employee, not a player.

“In saying that, not much has changed. There’s a bit of personnel, a few coaches and players and stuff but it’s still the same place, you can still feel the great culture here and there’s still people striving for success, which is what I love about the place.”

Stewart played 101 AFL games in 10 seasons with Port Adelaide after being selected at pick 23 in the 2006 AFL National Draft.

After being delisted at the end of the 2016 season, he returned to Woodville-West Torrens, where he won the 2006 SANFL premiership, and worked as a regional coordinator for youth homelessness organisation Ladder.

He says that experience will stand him in good stead for his new roles.

“It’s a split role, working with the father-sons, the Next Generation Academy guys, the Multicultural and Aboriginal programs, and the women - and then working with John Hinge in the welfare space as well,” Stewart said.

“I’m looking forward to working with these kids throughout the year and seeing them grow as people and players.

“That’s sort of my main role, be that mentor and coach to them and then hopefully see some outcomes in the future where we eventually might pick them up.

“In the welfare space I’m keen to work with the players, I’ve learnt a lot from my transition through the AFL into the real world and I’m hoping I can help players make that transition easier, and give John Hinge a hand in that space as well.”

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