Chris Newman to lead Tigers in 2012 by: Michael Warner in Arizona
From: Herald Sun
December 02, 2011RICHMOND has resisted the urge to rush rising star Trent Cotchin into the captaincy, reappointing Chris Newman for 2012.
But the handover appears inevitable, with Cotchin, 21, installed as outright vice-captain for the first time.
Coach Damien Hardwick announced the Richmond leadership line-up yesterday at a training camp in Tucson, Arizona.
Newman, 29, one of the AFL's least heralded captains, will lead the Tigers for a fourth consecutive season.
''I always thought he was an outstanding player, even when I was at an opposition club,'' Hardwick said.
"I very much liken him to Richie Vandenberg at Hawthorn.
"He's the captain that this footy club needed. People talk about culture - culture is a derivative of the people that are within your footy club and he epitomises everything we are at the moment.''
Hardwick said Cotchin had emerged as a leader after Newman was injured late last year.
"He stepped up enormously last year,'' he said. "It's amazing - when you put a guy in a little bit above himself you can certainly see whether he rises, and that's what he did.
Newman told the Herald Sun: "I guess when I took over as captain I was overawed and initially felt like I was out of my league a little bit, but I've grown as a person and as a player and see it as a real responsibility, particularly to such a young group.
"It's a lot of pressure, and I'm a fairly emotional person, so I take a lot of responsibility for the things that evolve on the ground, and so you should as captain.''
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/chris-newman-to-lead-tigers-in-2012/story-e6frf9jf-1226211322342
