Hello Newman...
The Fighting Tiger Bulletin
By Tony Greenberg
You won't find Chris Newman on 'The Footy Show'.
You won't find Chris Newman in the footy headlines of your favorite newspaper.
You won't find Chris Newman mingling with the 'glamors' at the Brownlow Medal.
Where you will find Chris Newman is in the backline for Richmond on match days, quietly, but ultra-efficiently going about his business.
The 23-year-old veteran of nearly 70 AFL games, is one of those players who somehow manages to stay out of the spotlight, despite being darn good at his craft.
His explanation for that is typically modest: "I'm a backline player, I'm stock-standard. . . just a few spoils and that sort of thing."
While Newman's new coach at Tigerland, Terry Wallace, acknowledges that his reliable left-foot defender does tend to slip under the radar, he certainly wouldn't describe him as "stock-standard".
"He doesn't really attract a lot of attention here either. I mean, you've got to go and seek him out - he won't come and seek you out. That's his nature. . . he's quiet - a 'doer' rather than a 'sayer' ," Wallace said.
'There are some blokes who will show the way by their actions on the training track, and some blokes who show the way by having a strong presence within the group.
"Chris shows the way just by what he does. He steps across the white line and he's a warrior.
"People will follow that type of person. . ."
Despite Newman's low profile and lowkey approach to the game, Wallace actually took particular interest in him upon arrival at Punt Road as coach.
"I play basketball with his uncle, so it was only natural to watch him a little bit closer," he said.
That 'friendly' link, however, didn't stop Wallace from being his customary forthright, honest self at his first official meeting with Newman.
"He told me that I was coming into my fifth year and he thought I was one of those players who needed to make that next step and start performing, otherwise everything might go downhill from there," Newman said.
"Five years in, he felt I probably should have been a bit more developed than what I had shown - probably more so in terms of last year. The year before that he thought was okay."
Newman agreed with his coach's assessment...
"I saw myself as having made a steady improvement up until last year when I just flat-lined, or probably even decreased. I wanted to take the next step last year, but obviously it didn't happen. It was disappointing that I couldn't get the job done for the team and disappointing that we were losing every week," he said.
"We were 4-4 after eight rounds and that wasn't too bad. . . but after that it was just horrific. We couldn't get anything right on the field."
Wallace has no doubt the team's poor form in 2004 contributed to Newman's individual improvement graph heading slightly south for the first time in his league career.
"I thought he just lost his way a little bit last year, which can happen when you're playing in an environment that is not a winning one," Wallace said.
Midway through 2005, Tigerland is a totally different place. . . much to Newman's delight.
"I think confidence is a pretty big thing and obviously last year our confidence was shot to bits. It's like a fresh start now. We've really taken to Terry and the new coaching staff. And, the new players have helped, too, with a bit of experience and a bit of youth there," Newman said.
"We'd be pretty disappointed if we didn't make the eight after a good start to the season, but obviously we can't look too much ahead because anything can happen.
Every win's pretty much a bonus for me after last year. I just love winning:'
Newman's role in Richmond's solid showing during the first half of the year has been significant.
He has not only nullified the opposition's best small forwards on a consistent basis, but he's also been a springboard for Tiger attacking thrusts with his hard running and penetrating left foot.
Wallace has been suitably impressed with the way 'Newie' has responded to the challenge he threw down to him,
"Initially, I thought he probably would develop into one of our midfielders - a strong-bodied, in-and-under type. But then I found out that we didn't have many hard-nosed, strong, tough defenders who could play on the 'smalls'. So, almost through necessity, rather than anything else, we've kept him in the backline," Wallace said.
"He's good enough to play in the midfield, but I wanted to get some real stability into our backline, as well as some physical strength. I just thought Chris had the ability to fill that role really well - and he's taken it on magnificently,
"If I find myself some replacements, some guys to come up from underneath, who are wanting to take on that sort of role in the backline, then I'm sure he can develop into a top-line midfielder.
"But that doesn't mean he has to. I've seen players in the past at other clubs almost All-Australian backmen - who have been desperate to get into the midfield. They finally got their way by pushing the issue, but I don't know whether that helped their careers. In fact, they probably were better players in the backline....
"Gary Ayres was good enough to play as a centreman/ruckrover, but he was also one of the best back pocket players going around. . . I don't have to move 'Newie' just for the sake of it"
Newman admits he has midfield aspirations, but is in no hurry to make the move to the 'coalface'.
"I played my junior football in the midfield and I want to try and develop into a midfielder at Richmond. The midfield roles that I've had have been mainly run-with roles, so I haven't really had the chance to play my own game, which I want to do eventually. But at the moment, I'm pretty comfortable being down back," he said.
'We've formed a bit of a bond in the back half. We're good mates off the field as well . . ' we catch up for lunch all the time and have a few laughs. And, the boys have been in fairly good form, too. . . 'Gas', 'Chubb', 'Tivva', 'Bowdo' and 'Razor'."
A key part of Newman's backline role with the Tigers this season has been the 'kick-ins'. The pressure on those players who bring the ball back into play after an
opposition has scored a behind is considerable, but it's something the unflappable Newman appears ideally suited to.
"Choco [Brian Royal) wanted me to kick in this year. I think I only did it a couple of times last year. I did it through the under-18s, although it's a bit different there. But I'm enjoying it . . ." he said.
"My kicking is something I needed to improve. I thought it was one of my strengths, but I wanted to fine tune it
"I've worked a fair bit with [assistant coach] Dave Wheadon and he's helped me with my ball drop and a few other things to do with my technique. Terry seems fairly happy with the way the kick-ins have been going.
He says he's seen steady improvement in my kicking,"
Not surprisingly, given the Tigers' startling improvement this season and his own good form, Newman is a devoted Wallace disciple.
"Terry's really positive. He's developed a formula for us to follow throughout the year, and that's what we stick to," Newman said.
"He's just really easy to understand, easy to get along with, and he obviously knows his stuff. . . he's really switched on.
"When he arrived, he went back to the basics with everything, and that's what we needed. Even with the skills, we just started with the basics pre-season. Everything has just sort of rolled on from there. . ...
Newman, who is contracted to the Tigers until the end of the 2006 season, is genuinely excited about the Club's prospects both short-term and long-term.
'We did really well in the Draft last year. We got the two best young players in the country in Brett Deledio and Richard Tambling. And, we also did well to get 'Simmo' (Troy Simmonds] across, along with Trent Knobel and 'Heebee' [Mark GrahamJ. That's helped bring a little bit of balance to the group," Newman said.
"Danny Meyer and Adam Pattison have shown they can play as well, and we've got quite a few other promising young players on the list, too.
"I can't wait till those young blokes really hit their straps because that will be something to see. . ...
Newman, at his stage of league football life, is fully aware of the extra responsibility now on his shoulders at Tigerland, as he strives to set the right example for the Club's talented department of youth.
And, he admits that down the track he would relish the opportunity of being involved in an official leadership capacity with the Tigers.
"It's something that you've got to take on a bit with the younger players now, but obviously in the future I want to look to be in the leadership group," he said.
"You look at the players who are in there at the Club (Johnson, Brown, Bowden and RichardsonJ and they're the real core of the playing group.
"To be in the leadership group's a big honor, and it'd be great if that happens...".
In the meantime, though, Newman will do what Newman does best - take care of business on the field of battle for the Yellow and Black, minus any fuss or bother.
That's the Chris Newman way...
