Richmond captain Chris Newman closing in on unwanted record Sam Edmund
From: Herald Sun
March 26, 2012 IT'S the unwanted record that is taking on a life of its own.
And every time Chris Newman faces the media, he knows a reminder is likely.
The Richmond skipper is climbing the ladder of most games played without featuring in a final.
On the eve of his 12th season and a Round 1 blockbuster with Carlton, Newman sits sixth, with his 192 games, 38 behind St Kilda great Trevor Barker.
"I'm aware of it," Newman said. "I'm up there, there's no doubt about that.
"To be honest, I don't really care about (the record). I mean, definitely not playing finals the last 10 years has been challenging and frustrating at times. I'm really keen to get a taste of that, as everyone is."
Asked if he could see Barker in the distance, Newman said: "No, he's still a fair way off. Hopefully it doesn't come to that."
The harsh reality is that if Richmond does not make the eight this year, Newman will assume the infamous mantle next year.
However, he is genuinely optimistic the Tigers can advance into September for the first time since 2001.
"There's no doubt the list is a little bit more mature and over the last couple of years we've been developing and trying to blood some of the younger players," Newman said.
"We're in a really good position to really be able to challenge a lot of those teams in the eight. You just don't know until you start."
He said the re-signing of coach Damien Hardwick had given the side a perfect platform.
The leadership group was called into a room with chief executive Brendan Gale and president Gary March at Richmond's season launch and told Hardwick had signed the contract extension.
"There were smiles on a few faces and we were really happy and happy for him that he's got that security now and can just look forward to the future," Newman said.
"It's great. He really deserves it. He's put in a lot of hard work, along with everyone else around him in the last couple of years, and he deserves to see some of these young kids come through and mature and get some success around the place.
"The longer he's around our football club and our team, the better off we'll be."
Top-four fancy Carlton go into Thursday night's game after a winless pre-season and a string of injuries to key players, but Newman wasn't about to start using the word "vulnerable".
"They've got a really strong list," he said.
"There's no doubt that you can't look into pre-season form too much.
"A few of them won't be there and a few of them have got injuries, but I think they've got enough depth to cover those guys. They're going to be a really formidable opponent."
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