SA Footy

Luke Holmesby @ afl.com wrote:All over for Dew: veteran Hawk calls it quits



DUAL premiership player Stuart Dew has announced his retirement.

He will retire at season’s end.

After 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 he was controversially drafted to Hawthorn in the 2007 NAB AFL 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 five.

Dew was a key part of Hawthorn’s 2008 flag after also tasting premiership success with Port Adelaide in 2004, and he was the only member of the Hawks' premiership side to have previously tasted success.

The contentious draft pick was justified for the instrumental role he played in the Hawks grand final win.

He proved to be the game turner in the third quarter – beating three opponents to get a handball off to Mark Williams for a goal before kicking two majors of his own in a five-minute burst.

UK Fan wrote:Now come back and play with the dogs in 2010

Reece Homfray @ Messenger Community News wrote:Dogs talk with Dew


Stuart Dew celebrates during Hawthorn's AFL
Grand Final win last year. Picture: Michael Dodge.


CENTRAL District has spoken to dual AFL premiership hero Stuart Dew about his plans for next season.

While no formal offer was made, Bulldogs chief executive Kris Grant spoke with Dew over the phone yesterday.

Dew, a former Central District premiership player now with Hawthorn in the AFL, this week announced that 2009 would be his last as a player.

But he expressed a strong desire to take up a coaching or development role next year.

``(I’m) looking to stay involved in any way possible,’’ Dew said at his press conference on Tuesday.

``Now it’s looking at where can I get involved?

``I think I’ve got a lot to offer with the journey and my experience ...a lot of finals football and being involved with a club from the start at Port Adelaide then coming in on the back of everyone’s hard work here (Hawthorn) and helping with the finishing touches.

``It would be silly not to pass that on.’’

Dew, who played in Central District’s inaugural SANFL premiership in 2000 before AFL flags with Port Adelaide (2004) and the Hawks (2008) said he’d ``love to get involved’’ in coaching.

``Whether that’s development or an assistant coach, I think I’m a fairly positive person and that’s one of the skills involved but there’s a learning process and I’m really looking forward to that.’’

After speaking with Dew on Thursday, Grant said he thought the left-footer would still be involved at AFL level next year.

``He’s got a partner in Sydney and that may have a bearing on what happens,’’ Grant said.

``I’m sure he’d like to get involved at the next level ...and I get the feeling that if he’s going to be involved in footy that’s where it would be (AFL).’’

Dew was expected to return to Elizabeth Oval as a player in 2008 before he was famously selected by Hawthorn in the national draft.

Grant said Dew remained ``good mates’’ with current Bulldogs stars Chris and James Gowans and he expected to see him in Adelaide for their finals campaign - if Hawthorn’s season ended prematurely.