Newman admits priority picks need reviewrichmondfc.com.au
By Jason Phelan Wed 22 July, 2009
RICHMOND captain Chris Newman has given cautious support to calls for a review of the priority pick system following the sensational claims made by former coach Terry Wallace on Wednesday.
Wallace made headlines when he revealed he had coached the round 22 match of the 2007 season against St Kilda with an eye on securing the pick that allowed the club to recruit young gun Trent Cotchin.
The Tigers lost the match by 10 points after leading by three at three-quarter time.
"I guess it needs to be looked at, but I think the idea behind it is genuine in making sure that the competition is as even as possible," Newman said.
"Every team and every player wants to go out and win. There's no way that you could possibly say to a player, 'Miss this goal or drop that mark'."
Newman's own recollections of the match in which he secured three Brownlow votes were vague and he admitted his disappointment in Wallace's comments.
"What Terry said is up to Terry and you'd probably have to ask him why that occurred," he said when asked why he spent the last eight minutes of that game on the bench.
"I'm not angry about it but probably a bit more disappointed. I'm not sure where Terry was coming from with that."
More to follow...
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