By JARROD POTTER
ONE of the south-east’s finest footballers has decided this will be his last year at the elite level.
From Narre Warren and Dandenong Stingrays as a junior, Chris Newman, 33, stepped seamlessly into the AFL ranks and has flourished throughout a 14-season career in the black and yellow – featuring in 264 games for his beloved Tigers.
But when the final siren sounds on Richmond’s 2015 season, it will also sound the end of Newman’s AFL career.
From debuting in 2002, Newman worked his way up the ranks to attain one of the proudest positions in league football – earning the Richmond captaincy from 2009 to 2012 – and he said the time was right to announce his retirement – as the game continued to speed up while he slowed down through the twilight of his AFL career.
“Always difficult I think – but on the flip side I knew it was coming,” Newman said. “I always entered this season with an open mind, but always knowing in the back of my mind.
“My body and mind are pretty good, but I just felt at stages this year that the game had passed me by a little bit.
“While I felt that I’m still capable of playing my role for the team, with more wins to come.
“I’ve been lucky enough and fortunate enough to have the coaches back me in and play another year and I’m just trying to repay that favour.”
For helping usher the team through some of its darkest times – wooden spoons and years of poor results on field – into a new era of potential prosperity, Newman was pleased to play some small part in the Richmond renaissance and hopes it continues long after he’s hung up the boots.
“The club is in a great position – in terms of just personnel and the playing group, we’ve got the right people in the right places and have been through my ups and downs … but it’s never as bad as it seems,” Newman said.
“You just reflect on those times, but there’s been so many ups throughout my career and I’ve been so fortunate to be at the one club and to have met the people I’ve met though out my time here has been extremely humbling.
“It’s been overwhelming just overnight the amount of support I’ve received already so I’m really appreciative of that.”
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick praised Newman’s tireless work in setting the on and off-field culture at Punt Road, throughout the mostly dire times the fuss-free defender has been at the club.
“Chris has been an outstanding representative of the Richmond Football Club for 15 years, both on and off the field,” Hardwick said.
“He has been a brilliant player, a strong and composed leader, and a magnificent role model.
“He took over as Richmond captain in a difficult time, and carried himself impressively as he helped build the strong culture which exists at Tigerland today.
“I’m sure the players will be doing everything they can to make sure he gets an appropriate send off, and it’s fitting that our fans can pay tribute to him during the remainder of the season.”
Newman’s Tigers sit sixth on the AFL ladder and face Collingwood this weekend on Saturday afternoon.
