Former Port Adelaide forward Daniel Stewart has died suddenly at the age of 37, leaving behind his wife Laura and their two sons, Bernie and Lando.
Port Adelaide confirmed on Saturday, October 24, that Stewart had died the previous day. The club has not disclosed a cause of death and has asked that his family’s privacy be respected.
Stewart played 36 AFL games and kicked 31 goals for the Power between 2010 and 2013. But his story stretched well beyond those numbers: across four states, through jobs on building sites and behind a bar, and eventually into a fitness business alongside a close football friend.
Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson said the news had shocked the club.
“Daniel was part of the Port Adelaide football family, and he always will be,” Richardson said.
In its official announcement, Port extended condolences to Stewart’s wife and children, his mother Donna, father Byron and brother Leigh, as well as his friends and former teammates.
Richardson said support would be provided to those affected. The Power will honour Stewart by wearing black armbands in their first home game at Adelaide Oval in 2027.
A four-state journey to the AFL, with work behind the scenes
Stewart’s path to professional football required patience. He began playing at six in Victoria before his family relocated to Western Australia, where he spent six years. He later returned to Victoria and played with the Eastern Ranges.
Overlooked in the 2006 national draft, he moved to Queensland and joined Labrador. During the week, he worked as a builder’s labourer while continuing to chase a football opportunity.
He finished runner-up in the AFL Queensland Rising Star award but again missed selection. His next move took him to North Adelaide in the SANFL, where he supplemented his football income by working behind a club-owned bar.
Port Adelaide’s 2009 account of his early career records how a four-goal performance in North Adelaide’s elimination-final defeat helped strengthen his case for promotion.
After an anxious wait to learn his future, Stewart received the call confirming he would move onto Port’s senior list. He celebrated by buying himself a car shortly before his 21st birthday.
The approximately 200cm forward had joined Port through pick No. 35 in the 2009 Rookie Draft, held in late 2008. He made his AFL debut against Geelong in Round 4, 2010.
It was a difficult introduction, with Port losing by 95 points. Stewart nevertheless marked the occasion with a personal milestone: his first AFL mark produced his first AFL goal.
His best scoring performance followed later that season, when he kicked four goals against Richmond in Round 22. He finished his debut AFL campaign with 12 goals from 11 appearances.
Stewart also developed as a ruck option. An injury to North Adelaide ruckman Cain Ackland, sustained while surfing, helped create that opportunity. Port’s coaches recognised his marking and mobility as qualities that could serve him in both roles.
He played another 12 AFL games in each of 2011 and 2012, followed by one appearance in 2013 before being delisted. That year, he also represented North Adelaide in its SANFL grand-final defeat against Norwood.
Family, friendship and a business after football
Former teammate Kane Cornes remembered Stewart’s personality as warmly as his football.
“A brilliant and caring teammate who always had a smile on his face,” Cornes wrote on X.
Cornes also recalled watching Stewart’s family life from afar, praised the business he had built and highlighted his close friendship with former Power midfielder Matt Thomas.
That friendship continued well beyond Alberton. In an archived Port Adelaide interview, Thomas described Stewart as his former Adelaide housemate and business partner.
Thomas explained that discussions involving the pair and former Port fitness coach Cameron Falloon led to Gymmy Squatz, which grew to three gyms within 18 months.
He also said he and Stewart jointly owned six Body Fit Training gyms at the time of the interview, showing how their connection through football developed into a shared working life.
For Stewart’s family, the loss is of a husband, father, son and brother. For those who played beside him, the early tributes remember a caring friend whose place in their lives continued long after his final AFL appearance.
Sources: Port Adelaide Football Club’s official announcement and career archives; AFL.com.au; AFL Tables; and Kane Cornes’ tribute as reported by Fox Footy.
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