Chris Newman will do anything to break his finals duckBy Jennifer Phelan
afl.com.au
Monday, September 2, 2013JACK Riewoldt is "jumping out of his skin" over playing in Richmond's first final in 12 years and is expected to return from back and knee issues on Sunday, says Chris Newman.
And Newman plans on joining Riewoldt as key inclusions for the Tigers for their elimination final against Carlton at the MCG – even if it's as the substitute.
Riewoldt didn't play in Saturday night's win over Essendon, with the club citing back soreness as the reason.
He has also been plagued by a knee issue that stems back to when he jarred it against Carlton in round 21.
Newman said the spearhead had every intention of playing in his maiden final.
"I think it's back related and he's had a bit of knee trouble as well, but he's fine, he's ready to go," Newman said on Monday.
"I know that he's done everything in his powers to be able to play this week.
"From all reports and from speaking to him this morning, he can't wait so I think everyone knows Jack and he'll be jumping out of his skin."
Newman has missed the past three games with right ankle syndesmosis; a high degree sprain that affects the ligament that connects the tibia and fibula bones.
The 31-year-old is confident he'll get through training this week and is more than prepared to start the game in the green vest if it means he'll play his first final after 232 games.
"I'm not sure. I think that will be up to Damien – there might be a chance," he said.
"I'm not too sure how we'll structure up throughout the week.
"If that's the case then I'm happy to accept that."
Newman holds the record for the most games played without appearing in a final.
He admitted it wasn't ideal to have missed the past three games but the upside was the rest of his body was feeling fresh.
He also said he was "extremely confident" he had enough fitness behind him to cope with Sunday's intense encounter despite not playing since round 20.
"I've done a lot of training in rehab and, as people say when they're not playing, they have to work harder when they're in rehab to try and maintain that fitness," he said.
"My body feels good and I could have possibly played on the weekend, but we thought it was probably best to leave it for this week.
"It just enables [the ankle] to be 10 per cent better this week.
"I'm feeling really good and looking forward to training."
The Tigers are being told to embrace this week's excitement and hype, with coach Damien Hardwick emphasising the drought since the last time they played finals.
Development coach and former Port Adelaide premiership coach, Mark Williams, is also keen for the players to soak up the experience, which Newman said had already produced unexpected emotion.
"He's going to get us to pick up some turf and have a smell of the grass and all that sort of stuff," Newman said.
"It's different to what I thought I would feel; I thought I would have a huge sense of relief of something.
"It's certainly not that. I haven't felt that at all; it just feels like unfinished business and I can't wait to sink my teeth into what will be a great game on Sunday."
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-09-02/newman-desperate-to-break-duck
