Newman to lead the Tigers
Michael Gleeson | November 19, 2008
RESPECTED Richmond defender Chris Newman is expected to be announced as the new Tigers captain today, just a week after Kane Johnson stood down as skipper.
Midfielder Nathan Foley, a vice-captain this year with Newman, is expected to remain in that role.
The Tigers' changes will usher a new generation of mid-20s players into the leadership, but the Tigers are believed to have opted against going one step further and encouraging the younger generation again — players such as Brett Deledio or Trent Cotchin — into taking titled leadership positions.
Newman, who has worn the No. 1 guernsey, will now wear No. 17 following the pattern established in the past decade for the captain to wear the number of Jack Dyer, the club's most-revered player.
No player will wear No. 1 while Newman is captain, and Johnson, who was captain for four years, will again wear No. 28 next season.
Johnson, who took over the captaincy in 2005, led the Tigers in 77 matches but told the club recently the time was right to hand on the title.
Richmond might have considered a short-term sentimental appointment of club favourite Matthew Richardson to the top position but that romantic idea was quickly scotched by the club and the player.
Richardson said recently he would not be the captain, observing without bitterness that his moment passed when Wayne Campbell's term as captain ended and Johnson was appointed to the top job.
At the time he announced he had decided not to continue as captain, Johnson, predictably, did not nominate one successor but suggested that there were several qualified candidates.
"Oh look, there's probably three or four, probably five, that are definitely ready," Johnson said.
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