It’s taken 12 seasons and more than 230 games, but, finally, valuable Richmond veteran Chris Newman is on the verge of his first AFL finals appearance.

And, Newman’s long-time teammate Brett Deledio – also a stranger to the September action up until now – couldn’t be happier for his former Tiger captain . . .

“I’m rapt for him.  He’s one of my close mates here at the Club,” Deledio told ‘Roar Vision’.

“It hurts him that we haven’t had any finals success, and he’s been through quite a lot, having been skipper of the Club when we were in a pretty dark place.

“But he’s coming out the other side now.  He’s left the backline – he’s a forward now, he tells me – and he’s putting on a heap of pressure and kicking goals.

“He’s a new man, pardon the pun.”