The best mate of former Port Adelaide AFL player Daniel 'Snowy' Stewart has shared a heartbreaking tribute after he suddenly died at age 37 on Friday.
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he → share → Friday
Matthew Thomas, who played alongside Stewart at the Power in 2013 before the pair teamed up to run a Melbourne gym business, described him as a 'shooting star'.
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pair → play → star
'We were never just friends, we were always family, and life will never be the same without you,' Thomas said.
'You never know when something might be the last time.
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something → say → you
I wish we'd known.
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we → wish → ?
The 200cm forward, who played 36 games for Port between 2010 and 2013, is believed to have suffered a medical episode.
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who → play → episode
His wife Laura posted her own devastating homage to her husband on her social media the following day alongside of a posed family photo with their two young sons.
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wife → post → sons
We love you so much daddy,' she said.
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she → love → you
Ms Stewart's sister Claire Madden has since launched a GoFundMe in his memory, which has already raised $39,000 of a $65,000 target.
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which → launch → target
Snowy Stewart with wife Laura and their sons Bernie and Lando
Matthew Thomas, right, shared a touching tribute to Snowy, describing him as family
Stewart was delisted by the Power at the conclusion of the 2013 season
One anonymous donor contributed $10,000.
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donor → share → 10,000
'I have started this page so that we can all rally around Laura and the boys, Bernie and Lando, during this profoundly difficult time,' Ms Madden said.
'
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Madden → start → time
We are all completely heartbroken by the immense loss of Daniel Stewart, fondly known to so many of us as "Snowy."
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We → heartbroken → Snowy
'Daniel was the definition of a devoted husband, a deeply loving father, a cherished son, brother, uncle and a loyal, true friend to everyone fortunate enough to know him.
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Daniel → love → him
'His warmth, kindness, and dedication to his family left an indelible mark on all of our hearts, and his absence leaves a void that words cannot begin to fill.
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words → leave → that
Seemingly hours before Stewart's passing, Thomas had shared a smiling photo on social media on Friday of the two men fresh from a workout.
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Thomas → share → workout
From teammates to business partners, to dads - and still each other's biggest motivators,' the caption said.
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caption → say → dads
'Still doing BFT classes because they work!!!!
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they → do → classes
Thomas shared a picture with Stewart seemingly hours before he died suddenly
A GoFundMe has been launched in Snowy's memory to support his young family
Fellow Port players and other AFL figures shared their condolences with Thomas via social media.
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players → share → media
Chad Cornes said: 'Thinking of you all, mate.
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Cornes → say → you
Warren Tredrea, Brad Ebert, Jackson Trengove and Alipate Carlile shared their support online.
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Tredrea → share → support
The AFL's 'hottest WAG' Chelsea Becirevic - partner of former Port ruckman Ivan Soldo - said she was 'thinking of you guys and sending all of our love'.
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she → say → love
Tragically, the Daily Mail can also reveal Stewart was close mates with another late Power star - John McCarthy, who died after falling from the roof of the Flamingo Hotel while on an end-of-season trip to Las Vegas in 2012.
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who → reveal → 2012
The day after his death, Stewart shared a picture of himself next to McCarthy and then-teammate Hamish Hartlett, with several friends flooding the comments to offer their sympathy.
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friends → share → sympathy
Port Adelaide's chief executive Matthew Richardson issued a statement on Saturday about Stewart's death, adding it had 'come as a shock to everyone at the club'.
'On behalf of everyone at Port Adelaide Football Club, I extend our deepest condolences to Daniel's family, including his mum Donna, dad Byron, wife Laura, two sons Bernie and Lando and his brother Leigh,' he said.
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he → issue → mum
Stewart, left, was mates with late Port star John McCarthy, centre, with Hamish Hartlett
AFL's 'hottest wag' Chelsea Becirevic, seen with partner Ivan Soldo, shared her condolences
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Becirevic → see → condolences
Warren Tredrea was among the Port legends offering support to Thomas on social media
'
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Tredrea → offer → media
We also extend our thoughts to his friends, including his close friend and former teammate Matt Thomas, and to all those at North Adelaide and Labrador who knew him.
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who → extend → him
'A sudden passing like this is devastating and our thoughts are with everyone who loved him, and with the teammates, coaches and staff who shared the journey with him here at Alberton.
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who → love → Alberton
The club will provide support to those affected by Daniel's passing, including his former teammates and the people who worked alongside him.
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who → provide → him
'We will honour Daniel by wearing black armbands in our first home game at Adelaide Oval in 2027.'
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We → honour → 2027
Stewart opened several gyms under the name Body Fit Training across Melbourne with Thomas after their time in the AFL came to an end.
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time → open → end
Beyond his achievements on the field and opening his gym franchise, Stewart had also spoken candidly about his battles with anxiety in 2013 when a serious shoulder and hip injury affected his performance as an athlete.
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injury → open → athlete
'I felt like I had nothing.
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I → feel → nothing
I lost my footy career...
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I → lose → career
I couldn't get a job, I broke up with my girlfriend,' he told The Age in a 2016 interview, describing the moment he was delisted.
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he → get → moment
Stewart spoke candidly about his struggles with anxiety in the past
Daniel was 'the definition of a devoted husband', according to his sister-in-law
Snowy, seen on a Gold Coast family holiday, adored his two sons, Bernie and Lando
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Snowy → speak → sons
I rang my mum and I started bawling my eyes out.'
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I → ring → eyes
The 2016 report said Stewart took antidepressants for five months and credited treatment, family support and sessions with a life coach for helping him through the battle.
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Stewart → say → battle
A spokesperson for BFT confirmed to Daily Mail that gym members were informed of Stewart's death via email on Saturday morning.
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members → confirm → morning
'It is with the deepest sadness that we share the sudden passing of our dearly loved owner and friend, Daniel Stewart (Snowy), after an unexpected medical episode yesterday,' the email read.
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email → share → episode
'Snowy is so deeply loved by all who knew him; an incredible husband, father, friend, business partner to Matty, and a beloved part of the BFT community.
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who → love → community
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
