RICHMOND defender Chris Newman had a tube put in his chest and risked broken ribs and a punctured lung to help his side beat Melbourne on Friday night.
Newman, who was injured when the Tigers lost to Fremantle in Perth two weeks ago, had a fitness test before the breakthrough win and surprised coach Terry Wallace by passing it.
The defender, who returned from a broken leg this season, also pleased his coach with a chase and tackle late in the last quarter, with Richmond's first win for the season already well secured.
"I just thought that typified the spirit of the side," said Wallace after the 49-point win over the Demons.
"Chris broke two ribs and punctured a lung two weeks ago over in Fremantle. It looked at one stage like we were going to have to drive him back over the Nullarbor. He ended up going in and getting a tube put in his chest to be able to fly back on our flight.
"I didn't think he had any hope of playing in the match. We had a test for him (Friday) morning and to come through that test and play with that sort of injury, then perform and, when the game's over, run a bloke down like that … I think he'll be a very sore boy tonight, but that's the attitude of the group."
The tube was placed in Newman's chest so he could fly back from Perth and was taken out after he returned to Melbourne.
Wallace said the Tigers, who spent two days together in Perth before splitting for their mid-season break last week, wanted to prove in the second half of the season that their long-term plan was the right one. "There's a couple of points we feel we need to improve on in the second half of the year like every other side," he said. "It's about playing some really solid footy and doing what we wanted to do in the first half of the year, and earning a little bit of respect about the direction we've set and the pathways we've set."
Nathan Brown kicked three goals in his return match for the Tigers and, according to the club, reported no leg soreness yesterday. Graham Polak was excellent in defence and Matthew Richardson brilliant.
Andrew Krakouer finished with a calf injury that will be assessed this week, but told the club yesterday morning he had pulled up well.
Youngster Dean Polo was sent for season-ending shoulder surgery before the match, after a third dislocation this year. He was replaced by Greg Tivendale.
Richmond football manager Paul Armstrong said the surgery had been brought forward so Polo would be right for a full pre-season.
"His shoulder was very loose and it got to the stage where if he tackled, there was a possibility that it would pop out again," Armstrong said.
"That's a five-month recovery, which means, hopefully, he'll be fresh and ready by the start of the pre-season."
Richmond's rucking woes were given some good news yesterday when Troy Simmonds played almost 70 minutes in the VFL for Coburg in its loss to North Ballarat.
Armstrong said Simmonds got through the match without issue and his fitness would be assessed.
"His form was quite good in the first half and then he was rested for the majority of the second half," Armstrong said.
Armstrong refused to say whether Simmonds would return for next Saturday night's clash against St Kilda.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/punctured-lung-broken-ribs-151-no-problem/2007/06/23/1182019435699.html
