WITH the end nearing for the last handful of Geelong’s premiership era players, it’s not hard to turn attention to the legacy they will leave or how they will be remembered.

For Mathew Stokes, it might well be as much about how he’s handled himself

off-field as it will be for what he’s been a part of on it.

From the outside, there have been four defining tests of character throughout Stokes’ career.

The first came at the start, when he was overlooked at three consecutive drafts.

But rather than concede defeat, he kept at it, plying his trade in Adelaide until Geelong gave him a go.

The second came around the 2009 Grand Final, when he put his hand up and said he was unfit to play in the preliminary final because of a groin injury, which basically cost him the chance of playing in another premiership the following week.

Rather than sulk, Stokes earned great respect by involving himself in the post-match celebrations, appearing on stage in costume as the Cats’ mascot.

The third came after drugs charges in 2010.

Players hate when their run-ins with the law are repeatedly referenced, but with Stokes it’s the impact that has made on his life that continues to make it so noteworthy.

He will always stand as a major example against a one-strike drugs policy.

You could argue AFL players are the most educated people in the country when it comes to illicit drugs, and that there should be no excuse for them to transgress.

But having found himself in trouble, Stokes has since transformed himself into the club’s most significant community worker, and a role model for young indigenous people.

Last year he took out Geelong’s community champion award for the second year in a row, and joked he had won more community awards than football awards.

The final test of character he is living right now.

Parting ways with premiership players is an awkward and uncomfortable situation for everyone.

But it can be made significantly easier or harder by the way the player handles himself throughout.

From all reports, Stokes handled his axing to the VFL last weekend with class.

It was said of all the veterans whose futures were up in the air, Stokes was the one who would handle being dropped best.

He went out on a cold Saturday and did everything you’d expect of a player of that experience at that level.

He had 32 possessions, 10 more than any other Cat, as well as five clearances.

It doesn’t augur well when you are in that 30-plus age bracket, out of contract and are dropped to the VFL six weeks out from season’s end.

“Stokesy’s attitude to the day was first-rate,” Cats VFL coach Paul Hood said.

“Talking to Mat (I asked), ‘What do you want to get out of the game?’ and he said, ‘Don’t worry about me, you just do whatever’s necessary for the team’, which shows why he’s been such a good player for the Cats for so long.”

Whatever happens from here, his latest test of character is an example of what we will remember of him off-field when the time finally comes.