Bul Kuol
September 10, 2021
Anthony Stewart
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 15/04/70
- Place of Birth: Burnie (TAS)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 196
- Weight (KG): 92
- Junior Assoc: TAS - Burnie
- College: None
- NBL DEBUT: 4/04/92
- AGE AT DEBUT: 21
- LAST NBL GAME: 10/11/07
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 37
- NBL History: Hobart 1992-94 | Perth 1995-00 | Cairns 2001-08
- Championships: 2
- Perth (1995, 2000)
BIO: Anthony Stewart was born in Burnie (TAS) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Burnie basketball program.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Anthony Stewart made his NBL debut with the Hobart Devils at 21 years of age. He scored three points in his first game.
Anthony Stewart played multiple seasons for the Hobart Chargers in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) before signing a deal to join his local NBL team, the Hobart Devils, in 1992.
1993
After a challenging 1992 season with Cal Bruton serving as both player and coach, the Hobart Devils shifted direction in 1993, deciding not to renew Bruton’s contract. Alongside Bruton, the team parted ways with import standout Joe Hurst and veteran Shane Froling, while promising young big man David Stiff departed to play college basketball at Boston College.
Despite these key exits, Hobart retained a strong core featuring prolific scorer Wayne McDaniel (20.2 points, 8.9 rebounds), reliable forward Andrew Svaldenis (15.6 points, 9.2 rebounds), sharp-shooting import guard Donald Whiteside (15.2 points, 5.6 assists), perimeter threat David Close (13.2 points, 2.9 assists), and rising second-year guard Anthony Stewart, who notably doubled his scoring output, finishing the season with averages of (11.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals) across 26 games.
The Devils faced mounting challenges early on, with depth issues and injuries sidelining McDaniel and Close at key points. Injury replacement Mike Kelly arrived midseason and made an immediate splash, averaging (19.5 points, 9 rebounds, and 2.5 steals) in just two games. Despite flashes of brilliance, including narrow wins over North Melbourne (100–98) and Townsville (109–97), Hobart struggled to consistently compete with the league’s top teams, ultimately finishing 13th with a disappointing (6–20) record.
Throughout the 1993 season, Anthony Stewart delivered several breakout performances that underscored his development into a reliable scoring and playmaking option. On July 30 against Geelong, Stewart exploded for a season-best 25 points (10-of-17 FG, 5-of-10 3PT), adding 7 assists and 3 rebounds in a standout showing. He followed that with a key game on September 25 against Gold Coast, where he posted 21 points (7-of-10 FG, 3-of-5 3PT, 4-of-7 FT), alongside 8 assists and 2 steals. Earlier in the year, Stewart impressed on July 23 against Perth with 20 points (7-of-17 FG, 5-of-13 3PT) and 4 rebounds, and on June 11 against Townsville, he tallied 16 points (6-of-11 FG, 3-of-4 3PT), 4 rebounds, and 2 assists, helping the Devils stay competitive.
Despite Stewart’s rising contributions and the consistent efforts of McDaniel, Svaldenis, Whiteside, and Close, Hobart’s season was ultimately derailed by injuries and limited roster depth. Supporting pieces like Jim Havrilla (9.8 points, 5.4 rebounds) and Justin Cass (7.5 points, 3 rebounds, 2.3 assists) added valuable minutes, but the Devils were unable to turn individual brilliance into sustained team success. Still, Stewart’s year-over-year improvement cemented him as one of the bright spots for the Devils, offering hope for the franchise’s future amid a difficult 1993 campaign.
1997
Following its quarterfinal exit to Adelaide, Perth moved into 1997 without Aaron Trahair (to Sydney), Pete Hansen and Matthew Earp, while Scott Fisher remained sidelined following knee reconstruction. Coach Adrian Hurley retained captain Andrew Vlahov, Ricky Grace, Todd Lichti, James Crawford, Anthony Stewart, Gavin Vanderputten, Phil Doherty and Ryan Gardiner, adding David Van Dyke (via Newcastle), Greg Brown, Scott Harkess and Nick Lackovic to the roster.
Perth opened the season at the Perth Entertainment Centre on April 11, where Stewart (17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal), Grace (14 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals) and Lichti (14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals) led the Wildcats, but Brian Tolbert (22 points and 3 steals) helped defending champion South East Melbourne win 104-84.
Stewart (13.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists across 33 games) took on a larger role, with his playing time increasing from 25.2 minutes per game the previous season to 32.9. He played 29 of Perth’s 30 regular-season games and all four playoff games, with his only absence coming in the June 21 home loss to Newcastle.
Stewart’s best scoring game came at Beaton Park on April 19, where he made eight three-pointers and finished with 28 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block as Perth defeated Wollongong 108-101, with Van Dyke (20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 5 blocks) and Grace (16 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 blocks) providing support. Stewart’s eight three-pointers remain tied for the third-highest single-game mark on the Wildcats’ record list.
On June 14, Stewart (25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals) produced one of his strongest all-round games as Perth defeated Townsville 109-90 at the Perth Entertainment Centre, with Vlahov (21 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) and Crawford (20 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists) providing support, while Clarence Tyson (23 points and 14 rebounds) led Townsville.
Stewart (21 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) made five three-pointers against Wollongong on July 12 as Perth won 106-86 at the Perth Entertainment Centre, with Vlahov (21 points and 2 blocks) and Grace (7 points, 11 assists, and 5 steals) providing support.
With Van Dyke (14.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks across 24 games) sidelined through June and July, George Banks (10.3 points and 7 rebounds across 7 games; via Dinamo Sassari) joined Perth in late June as short-term injury cover. Banks played seven games before his stint ended after July 19, with Van Dyke returning on August 16.
Lichti (16.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals across 34 games) led Perth in scoring, while Grace (16.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.6 steals across 34 games) directed the offence and led the Wildcats in assists. Crawford (14.7 points and 7.4 rebounds across 31 games) remained productive around the basket and appeared in his tenth consecutive NBL All-Star Game, while Vlahov (13.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.3 steals across 33 games) remained captain and Van Dyke led Perth in rebounding and blocks when available.
Perth closed the regular season in Townsville on September 26, where Stewart (16 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal), Lichti (25 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Crawford (23 points and 5 rebounds) helped the Wildcats hold off Townsville 102-100, while Derek Rucker (36 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists) was Townsville’s best. The win left Perth fourth with a 17-13 record.
The quarterfinal series opened at the Perth Entertainment Centre on October 4, where Stewart (10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal), Grace (18 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals), Vlahov (14 points and 12 rebounds) and Crawford (12 points and 11 rebounds) led Perth to an 81-79 win, while Leroy Loggins (32 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks) and Steve Woodberry (23 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) led Brisbane. Crawford suffered an injury during the victory and did not return for the remainder of the postseason.
Game two moved to the Brisbane Convention Centre, where Stewart (3 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block), Grace (25 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals), Vlahov (21 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) and Van Dyke (16 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led Perth to an 88-71 win and completed the sweep, while Woodberry (21 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, and 1 block) and Mark Dalton (16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) were Brisbane’s best.
With Crawford unavailable, Fisher (10 points and 5.5 rebounds across 2 games) returned from knee reconstruction for the semifinal series after missing the entire regular season, giving Perth frontcourt cover following Crawford’s injury.
The semifinals opened at the Perth Entertainment Centre on October 13, where Stewart (13 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists), Lichti (20 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Grace (19 points and 4 assists) led Perth, but Chris Anstey (19 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals) and Tony Ronaldson (18 points) led South East Melbourne to a 92-82 win.
Game two moved to Melbourne Park, where Stewart (11 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists), Grace (16 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) and Van Dyke (13 points, 11 rebounds, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) were Perth’s best, while Sam Mackinnon (21 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal) and Tolbert (19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) led South East Melbourne to a 96-69 win and completed the sweep. The 27-point defeat was Perth’s heaviest loss of 1997 and meant South East Melbourne had handed the Wildcats their three biggest losses of the season.
2004/05
Stewart served as the Taipans’ captain in 2004–05,
2005/06
Stewart served as co-captain in 2005–06
2006/07
Stewart served
Anthony Stewart played seventeen seasons across three NBL teams. This included the Hobart Devils, Cairns Taipans, Perth Wildcats and Townsville Crocodiles. He averaged 12.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3 assists in 489 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 19th in total games played.
– 29th in total points
– 20th in total assists
– 35th in total steals
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 | 37 | Townsville | 17-13 (5) | 4 | 44 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 23% | 2 | 9 | 22% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 31% | 31% | 5 |
| 2006-07 | 36 | Cairns | 17-16 (6) | 34 | 914 | 340 | 95 | 89 | 26 | 69 | 24 | 0 | 62 | 91 | 108 | 307 | 35% | 57 | 199 | 29% | 67 | 81 | 83% | 49% | 44% | 26 |
| 2005-06 | 35 | Cairns | 18-14 (5) | 34 | 1,015 | 435 | 119 | 90 | 33 | 86 | 19 | 0 | 65 | 86 | 139 | 347 | 40% | 86 | 230 | 37% | 71 | 86 | 83% | 56% | 52% | 25 |
| 2004-05 | 34 | Cairns | 11-21 (10) | 32 | 1,167 | 507 | 122 | 111 | 25 | 97 | 32 | 6 | 110 | 95 | 154 | 425 | 36% | 80 | 257 | 31% | 119 | 149 | 80% | 51% | 46% | 30 |
| 2003-04 | 33 | Cairns | 16-17 (6) | 35 | 1,354 | 542 | 137 | 115 | 27 | 110 | 41 | 4 | 67 | 92 | 185 | 501 | 37% | 109 | 326 | 33% | 63 | 80 | 79% | 50% | 48% | 30 |
| 2002-03 | 32 | Cairns | 13-17 (8) | 30 | 897 | 432 | 80 | 88 | 25 | 55 | 19 | 1 | 57 | 87 | 149 | 327 | 46% | 92 | 214 | 43% | 42 | 62 | 68% | 61% | 60% | 32 |
| 2001-02 | 32 | Cairns | 9-21 (11) | 30 | 1,020 | 395 | 91 | 81 | 28 | 63 | 28 | 2 | 76 | 85 | 137 | 365 | 38% | 75 | 223 | 34% | 46 | 62 | 74% | 50% | 48% | 32 |
| 2000-01 | 31 | Cairns | 6-22 (9) | 28 | 1,112 | 536 | 111 | 97 | 44 | 67 | 19 | 3 | 98 | 104 | 175 | 421 | 42% | 91 | 229 | 40% | 95 | 135 | 70% | 55% | 52% | 30 |
| 1999-00 | 29 | Perth | 22-6 (3) | 36 | 1,196 | 461 | 124 | 130 | 37 | 87 | 26 | 6 | 88 | 93 | 152 | 365 | 42% | 84 | 235 | 36% | 73 | 95 | 77% | 56% | 53% | 26 |
| 1998-99 | 29 | Perth | 13-13 (6) | 22 | 705 | 245 | 69 | 69 | 25 | 44 | 20 | 2 | 50 | 63 | 87 | 218 | 40% | 50 | 136 | 37% | 21 | 29 | 72% | 53% | 51% | 21 |
| 1998 | 28 | Perth | 17-13 (3) | 34 | 1,071 | 397 | 92 | 113 | 28 | 64 | 17 | 3 | 56 | 87 | 132 | 323 | 41% | 83 | 216 | 38% | 50 | 62 | 81% | 56% | 54% | 34 |
| 1997 | 27 | Perth | 17-13 (4) | 33 | 1,085 | 437 | 134 | 103 | 35 | 99 | 36 | 5 | 69 | 95 | 156 | 362 | 43% | 77 | 213 | 36% | 48 | 66 | 73% | 56% | 54% | 28 |
| 1996 | 26 | Perth | 16-10 (3) | 29 | 732 | 326 | 75 | 50 | 24 | 51 | 22 | 1 | 47 | 70 | 119 | 252 | 47% | 56 | 138 | 41% | 32 | 47 | 68% | 59% | 58% | 26 |
| 1995 | 25 | Perth | 19-7 (4) | 34 | 1,020 | 361 | 98 | 105 | 27 | 71 | 40 | 4 | 59 | 92 | 128 | 318 | 40% | 69 | 185 | 37% | 36 | 46 | 78% | 53% | 51% | 29 |
| 1994 | 24 | Hobart | 2-24 (13) | 26 | 1,073 | 487 | 107 | 130 | 31 | 76 | 53 | 7 | 110 | 94 | 172 | 375 | 46% | 80 | 209 | 38% | 63 | 91 | 69% | 58% | 57% | 31 |
| 1993 | 23 | Hobart | 6-20 (13) | 26 | 694 | 285 | 75 | 95 | 33 | 42 | 34 | 1 | 73 | 81 | 104 | 261 | 40% | 53 | 152 | 35% | 24 | 38 | 63% | 51% | 50% | 25 |
| 1992 | 22 | Hobart | 9-15 (11) | 22 | 250 | 110 | 42 | 27 | 24 | 18 | 7 | 0 | 30 | 37 | 37 | 102 | 36% | 20 | 53 | 38% | 16 | 22 | 73% | 49% | 46% | 15 | Totals | 489 | 15349 | 6304 | 1573 | 1495 | 473 | 1100 | 437 | 45 | 1119 | 1359 | 2137 | 5282 | 40.5% | 1164 | 3224 | 36.1% | 866 | 1151 | 75.2% | 54% | 51% | 34 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 | 37 | Townsville | 17-13 (5) | 4 | 11.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 23% | 0.5 | 2.3 | 22% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 31% | 31% | 5 |
| 2006-07 | 36 | Cairns | 17-16 (6) | 34 | 26.9 | 10.0 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 9.0 | 35% | 1.7 | 5.9 | 29% | 2.0 | 2.4 | 83% | 49% | 44% | 26 |
| 2005-06 | 35 | Cairns | 18-14 (5) | 34 | 29.9 | 12.8 | 3.5 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 4.1 | 10.2 | 40% | 2.5 | 6.8 | 37% | 2.1 | 2.5 | 83% | 56% | 52% | 25 |
| 2004-05 | 34 | Cairns | 11-21 (10) | 32 | 36.5 | 15.8 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 4.8 | 13.3 | 36% | 2.5 | 8.0 | 31% | 3.7 | 4.7 | 80% | 51% | 46% | 30 |
| 2003-04 | 33 | Cairns | 16-17 (6) | 35 | 38.7 | 15.5 | 3.9 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 5.3 | 14.3 | 37% | 3.1 | 9.3 | 33% | 1.8 | 2.3 | 79% | 50% | 48% | 30 |
| 2002-03 | 32 | Cairns | 13-17 (8) | 30 | 29.9 | 14.4 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 5.0 | 10.9 | 46% | 3.1 | 7.1 | 43% | 1.4 | 2.1 | 68% | 61% | 60% | 32 |
| 2001-02 | 32 | Cairns | 9-21 (11) | 30 | 34.0 | 13.2 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 4.6 | 12.2 | 38% | 2.5 | 7.4 | 34% | 1.5 | 2.1 | 74% | 50% | 48% | 32 |
| 2000-01 | 31 | Cairns | 6-22 (9) | 28 | 39.7 | 19.1 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 6.3 | 15.0 | 42% | 3.3 | 8.2 | 40% | 3.4 | 4.8 | 70% | 55% | 52% | 30 |
| 1999-00 | 29 | Perth | 22-6 (3) | 36 | 33.2 | 12.8 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 10.1 | 42% | 2.3 | 6.5 | 36% | 2.0 | 2.6 | 77% | 56% | 53% | 26 |
| 1998-99 | 29 | Perth | 13-13 (6) | 22 | 32.0 | 11.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 9.9 | 40% | 2.3 | 6.2 | 37% | 1.0 | 1.3 | 72% | 53% | 51% | 21 |
| 1998 | 28 | Perth | 17-13 (3) | 34 | 31.5 | 11.7 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 9.5 | 41% | 2.4 | 6.4 | 38% | 1.5 | 1.8 | 81% | 56% | 54% | 34 |
| 1997 | 27 | Perth | 17-13 (4) | 33 | 32.9 | 13.2 | 4.1 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 4.7 | 11.0 | 43% | 2.3 | 6.5 | 36% | 1.5 | 2.0 | 73% | 56% | 54% | 28 |
| 1996 | 26 | Perth | 16-10 (3) | 29 | 25.2 | 11.2 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 4.1 | 8.7 | 47% | 1.9 | 4.8 | 41% | 1.1 | 1.6 | 68% | 59% | 58% | 26 |
| 1995 | 25 | Perth | 19-7 (4) | 34 | 30.0 | 10.6 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 3.8 | 9.4 | 40% | 2.0 | 5.4 | 37% | 1.1 | 1.4 | 78% | 53% | 51% | 29 |
| 1994 | 24 | Hobart | 2-24 (13) | 26 | 41.3 | 18.7 | 4.1 | 5.0 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 6.6 | 14.4 | 46% | 3.1 | 8.0 | 38% | 2.4 | 3.5 | 69% | 58% | 57% | 31 |
| 1993 | 23 | Hobart | 6-20 (13) | 26 | 26.7 | 11.0 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 10.0 | 40% | 2.0 | 5.8 | 35% | 0.9 | 1.5 | 63% | 51% | 50% | 25 |
| 1992 | 22 | Hobart | 9-15 (11) | 22 | 11.4 | 5.0 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 4.6 | 36% | 0.9 | 2.4 | 38% | 0.7 | 1.0 | 73% | 49% | 46% | 15 | Total | 489 | 31.4 | 12.9 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 4.4 | 10.8 | 40.5% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 36.1% | 2.4 | 6.6 | 75.2% | 54% | 51% | 34 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 34 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Devonport 1989 | Launceston 1990-92 | Mandurash 1998 | Hobart 2005-11, 2013
Between 1989 and 1992, Anthony Stewart began his SEABL career with Devonport in 1989 before spending three seasons with the Launceston Ocelots from 1990 to 1992.
In 1998, he played for Mandurah in Western Australia before returning to the SEABL in 2005 with the Hobart Chargers.
Between 2005 and 2011, Stewart played seven consecutive seasons with the Chargers, earning selection to the SEABL South Conference All-Star team in 2007. In 2008, he captained Hobart to a SEABL championship.
He took on a dual role as player-coach from 2009 to 2011, returned as head coach in 2012, and served as player-coach again in 2013 before departing the club. Across his career, Stewart played over 200 games in the SEABL.
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Stewart played for the Australian Boomers in 2001
AWARDS
- SEABL champion (2008)
-
Australian Club Championships All-Star Five (2008)
COACHING HISTORY
Anthony Stewart began his coaching journey with the Hobart Chargers in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL), taking on a dual role as player-coach from 2009 to 2011. In 2012, he served solely as head coach before returning once again as player-coach for the 2013 season. His leadership through this period helped stabilise the club and laid the groundwork for its future resurgence.
In November 2015, Stewart returned to the Chargers as full-time head coach ahead of the 2016 SEABL season, signing a three-year contract. The club, which had previously faced financial instability, began to rebuild under Stewart and president David Bartlett. Together, they restructured the organisation, re-engaged the community, and developed a competitive roster with a renewed culture of accountability and professionalism.
The breakthrough came in 2018 when Stewart coached the Chargers to the SEABL championship. Hobart defeated the Nunawading Spectres 72–58 in the Grand Final in Melbourne, with five Chargers scoring in double figures and the team holding their opponents to just 27% shooting from the field. The victory was seen as the culmination of two years of strategic team-building and off-court transformation, and it was celebrated as a key milestone in Tasmania’s broader push for NBL re-entry. Stewart was recognised as one of the central figures behind the success, becoming a SEABL champion as both a player and coach.
Following the SEABL’s closure at the end of 2018, Stewart initially re-signed with the Chargers for the inaugural NBL1 season in 2019. However, the club opted not to compete that year, citing concerns about league costs and the structure of the new competition.
In December 2018, Stewart was appointed head coach of the Southern Huskies, Tasmania’s new franchise in the New Zealand NBL. The Huskies were formed with the long-term ambition of joining the Australian NBL, and Stewart was tasked with building the club’s first roster from the ground up. He quickly secured key signings, including NBA prospect Harry Froling and former SEABL stars Craig Moller and Tre Nichols, and was credited with assembling one of the most talented teams in the league.
However, the Huskies’ debut season in 2019 was marred by operational difficulties. The club’s demanding travel schedule across the Tasman placed significant strain on players and staff. Several players reportedly went unpaid for stretches of the season, and tensions escalated late in the year when a player mutiny was threatened due to non-payment. Stewart described the experience as “the worst six months of his life.” Despite the turmoil, the Huskies finished with a 9–9 record, narrowly missing the playoffs. The franchise folded at the end of the season and withdrew from the NZNBL.
Stewart was set to return to the Chargers as head coach for the 2020 NBL1 South season, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of all league competition that year. He resumed coaching duties in 2021, guiding the Chargers to an 11–4 record and a third-place finish in their return season.
In 2022, Stewart re-signed for another campaign and led the Chargers to the NBL1 South championship. Hobart defeated the Mount Gambier Pioneers in the grand final to capture the title, marking the second championship Stewart had delivered as head coach of the club. His role in restoring the Chargers to national prominence once again solidified his reputation as one of Tasmania’s most influential basketball figures.
He returned for a final season in 2023 before announcing in November 2024 that he would step down as head coach and transition into a director of coaching role with the Chargers. In this capacity, Stewart is expected to mentor the next generation of coaching talent and oversee the long-term development of the club’s basketball program.
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