Stuart Dew
A clutch left-footed specialist whose booming kicks decided premierships, forging a legacy as a player who delivered in the biggest moments.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Australian rules footballer, born 1979·Birthday: August 18·Generation X
Biography
Stuart Dew carved out a unique niche in Australian rules football not as a prolific goal-kicker, but as a player whose left foot could change the course of a grand final in minutes. His career was one of patience and precision, beginning at Port Adelaide where he was a reliable contributor. However, his legend was cemented after a move to Hawthorn. In the 2008 AFL Grand Final, with the game in the balance, Dew produced a breathtaking third-quarter burst, kicking two long, critical goals and setting up another in a display of sheer power and skill that broke Geelong's resolve. That quarter alone elevated him to football folklore. Transitioning into coaching, he brought that hard-won big-game understanding to the Gold Coast Suns as senior coach, tasked with developing a young list, before returning to Port Adelaide as an assistant.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Stuart was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Stuart Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Stuart's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Kicked two decisive long-range goals in the third quarter of the 2008 AFL Grand Final to secure Hawthorn's premiership.
- Won an AFL premiership with Port Adelaide in 2004.
- Served as the senior coach of the Gold Coast Suns from 2018 to 2023.
- Played over 200 AFL games across his career with Port Adelaide and Hawthorn.
Did You Know?
He is famously known by the nickname 'Dewey'.
His match-winning performance in the 2008 Grand Final is often referred to as 'The Dew Quarter'.
He was originally drafted by the Brisbane Bears in 1996 before being traded to Port Adelaide.
Dew battled weight issues throughout his playing career, which made his athletic feats even more remarkable to fans.
“You wait for your moment, then you let the left foot do the talking.”
