Richmond captain Chris Newman ready to help in midfield by: Michael Warner
From: Herald Sun
February 22, 2012 RICHMOND skipper Chris Newman will have bursts in the midfield this year as the Tigers try to bolster their versatility.
Newman's opportunities to vacate the backline will be limited, but he is keen to join Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Nathan Foley and Brett Deledio in the engine room.
"I'm in pretty good shape and excited to launch into it - this is my 12th season and I'm feeling as fit as ever," Newman, 29, said at Richmond's community camp in Mildura.
"I'll roll through a similar sort of role in the back half and maybe into the midfield a little bit this year, which will be a good change for me.
"I've trained a little bit in the midfield and tried to work with a few of the structures, just in case I roll through there. It will be up to the coaching staff whether they want me to, but I'll certainly put my hand up if that's what's required.
"I just thought it was pretty important just to change the role up a little bit - it gets fairly hard being stuck in the back pocket all the time. I love going up there and playing in the midfield and trying to adjust to the different structures and get amongst it."
Richmond's kicking out duties will be shared by Newman, Bachar Houli, Martin, Deledio and Jake Batchelor.
"That's the beauty of the mix that we've got now - we're pretty versatile in who can kick out and who can rebound," Newman said. "We've got a lot of good kicks down there now.
"In the past we've probably struggled to clear the ball out of the defensive 50 - and (coach) Damien (Hardwick) liked me playing back there."
Newman is the longest-serving AFL player not to have played a final - 192 matches and counting - and Trevor Barker's record of 230 games without a final for St Kilda is fast approaching.
"It's obviously not a record that I want to achieve," Newman said. "There's a lot of Richmond players in the same boat and we're really keen to put that to bed."
Starting his fourth year as captain, Newman - out of contract at the end of next year - is determined to lead a Richmond revival.
"Even though I'm almost 30 years of age, I still feel like I've got a lot to give," he said.Asked about the contract status of Deledio and Hardwick, Newman said: "Obviously, Brett will sign in his own time. He's a huge part of what we are trying to achieve and our leadership group.
"He knows the respect that he's got around the place and I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before Brett makes a decision and signs up.
"And I've got all the confidence in the world that Damien Hardwick will ... be there for the success that is hopefully coming our way."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-captain-chris-newman-ready-to-help-in-midfield/story-e6frf9jf-1226277524678
