In the 10^th of a Bingle Recruitment Zone special series, featuring 20 highlights from Richmond’s trade/draft history during the off-season, we look at Chris Newman’s impressive ascension at Tigerland.

Chris Newman was your classic late bloomer in AFL ranks . . .

As a kid growing up in Narre Warren, with Brendan Fevola his neighbor and friend, Newman played junior football at Beaconsfield.

He enjoyed incredible team success in the junior ranks at Beaconsfield, too, playing in a side that won eight consecutive premierships, and went undefeated for a staggering eight years!

From there, Newman was invited to try out with TAC Cup team the Dandenong Stingrays and, in typically low-key, but determined, efficient style, he developed into one of their best players.

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Newman won the Stingrays’ best and fairest in 2000 and was a member of the Victoria Metro side at the National under-18 championships.

He’d attracted the attention of the Richmond talent scouts throughout that season with the consistent form he displayed, playing primarily through the midfield.

The Tigers had six selections in the 2000 National Draft and, with their fifth pick (No. 55 overall), they chose Newman (behind Kayne Pettifer, Mark Coughlan, Chris Hyde and Andrew Krakouer).

Richmond played finals for the first time in six years, in 2001, but Newman spent the entire season developing with the Club’s VFL affiliate Coburg.

He showed a good deal of promise for Coburg, and twice was named as an emergency for Richmond’s side, but his AFL debut failed to materialise.

It took Newman until Round 9 the following season to break into the Richmond line-up (against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium), but once he did, there was no looking back for him.

Newman soon found his niche at the game’s highest level, as a small defender.

For many seasons, despite the Tigers’ lack of on-field success, Newman, essentially, was the glue that held their backline together, through his composure, awareness, strength, toughness, reliability, leadership qualities, and trusty left foot.

A key part of Newman’s backline role was taking the ‘kick-ins’ after an opposition behind – something he coped with extremely well due to his unflappable nature.

Newman finished fourth in the Jack Dyer Medal in 2008, was third in 2009 and then runner-up in 2010.  

When Kane Johnson resigned as Richmond’s captain at the end of the 2008 season, Newman was appointed as his replacement and, not surprisingly, he responded extremely well to the added responsibility of the role.

With his selfless approach to the game, Newman developed into a fine leader of such a young playing group, through some particularly tough times at Tigerland.

Although Newman stood down as skipper at the end of the 2012 season, he’s continued to play an important role with the Tigers, using his vast experience and football knowhow to assist teammates.

And, his form during 2014 was good enough to warrant a recent one-year contract extension, which means he’ll be going around for a 14^th season with Richmond, in 2015.

With 251 games to his credit, Chris Newman is now equal 12^th (alongside Kevin Sheedy) on Richmond’s all-time games’ list, which further highlights how well he’s stood the test of time at football’s elite level.

Richmond Recruiting Rewind series so far:
Andrew Kellaway – Brother, what a brave Tiger
Joel Bowden – In the name of the father
Tale of a titanic Tiger trade
Trio of Croweaters land at Tigerland
Matthew Richardson – Richo pickings for Tigers
Brendon Gale roars across Bass Strait
Wayne Campbell - from Golden Square to Yellow and Black
The Stewart-Barrot swap