Tony Greenberg: How has this pre-season compared to others in your league career?
Chris Newman: For me, and the older players at the Club, it’s been really good. The conditioning staff focused on trying to keep us relatively fresh, both mentally and physically. My workload was reduced quite a lot compared to some of the other boys and I think it’s paid off. My body feels good and, mentally, I feel very fresh going into the season. And, a lot of the other players are feeling the same. The pre-season was well structured. There was a good mix, with some of the things we need to work on with the footy, and they changed up the running a bit by doing a few different sessions.
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TG: It must have given the playing group a real boost during the pre-season to have those new facilities at the Club, and also the fact you were able to train right through on Punt Road Oval minus the cricket pitches . . .
CN: Yeah, it makes such a difference, particularly in terms of our training preparation. You can prepare as well as at the MCG here. Rather than preparing here, jumping in the car, and going down the road for 20 minutes or more, it’s just good to walk straight out on to the ground, ready to go. And, then, afterwards, it’s straight into the ice baths to do your recovery in the facilities, which is great.
TG: There was a strong focus on overall defensive pressure throughout the pre-season. How important has that been in the lead-up to the season proper?
CN: It’s huge. It’s the one area that probably let us down last year. We scored really well, but we just couldn’t defend as well as we would have liked. It was leaving the defenders to do a little more than what they should have been and, ultimately, the goals started to leak. It was one area that Damien was really conscious of and wanted to focus on over summer. That’s part of the reason Ross Smith has joined forces with Justin Leppitsch, as well and trying to get our defensive structure right. That’s what all teams are doing now . . . it’s defensive pressure right across the field, not just in the defensive area. It’s a whole mindset thing. It’s just as important for the forwards, as the backs.
TG: What about the importance of being able to get some wins during the pre-season, in terms of building some confidence and self-belief within the group?
CN: It’s probably more about the way we played, rather than the result. Our line-ups for the first two games we played, against North Melbourne and Hawthorn, were split between experience and inexperience. The second game, against Hawthorn, we had a more inexperienced team, but moved the ball better than what we did in the first game. I think, as the pre-season went on, we progressed and slowly took little steps, regardless of the opposition. For a young group like ours, it was good to get some wins, just for a bit of belief. I think we’ve got a huge amount of belief now in our structures . . . a lot of the boys are starting to realise that if we do things properly, we can win games of football . . .
TG: Are you pleased the Club opted to extend Damien Hardwick’s coaching contract when it did?
CN: The timing couldn't have been better, to have it all sorted out before the start of the season. I thought the Club and Damien were first class in the way they handled the whole thing. I think the group is just genuinely happy for him because he deserves it. Damien's biggest strength is his unwavering drive and passion to see this great club have the success that everyone is so desperately striving towards. What you see is what you get with him and the relationship that exists between him and the playing group is testament to the man he is.
TG: From a supporter’s perspective there have been a lot of false dawns at Tigerland over the past three decades. Why do you think this time is different?
CN: I just think we’re better prepared than at any other stage in my time at the Club. We’ve made solid progress over the last couple of years and we’ve got a really good mix now of older and younger players, so that gap which was there, is starting to be bridged. We’re only going to get better over the next few years, too. The recruiters have done a top job with getting some new talent into the Club. As Damien (Hardwick) said quite often over the past two years, a key part of our planning has been about getting games into young players. We’ve done that, and now we should start to see the benefits of that. It’s very exciting to see some of these guys show their potential.
TG: Does that make you keen to keep playing for as long as you can, so you can, hopefully, be part of something special at the Club?
CN: Well, I’ve always said I’ll hang on for grim death and try to have some success here. I’d just love to be around the place once we start to be successful. I was here in 2001 when we last played finaIs and, although I didn’t play seniors that year, I know how it feels when Richmond’s up and about, and the Tiger Army is in full voice. I think the game, in general, is better off when the Tigers are firing.
TG: The Tiger Army provides incredible support, doesn’t it?
CN: It’s amazing how each year they continue to show such strong, passionate support. We’re already around 45,000 members, which is a phenomenal effort. I think I heard the other day, we’re the only team that hasn’t played finals in the past 10 years, bar the two new teams, so for us to have so many members, is extraordinary, really. They’re the most passionate supporters in the league. I’m a bit biased, I know, but that’s my opinion.
TG: Are they worth a few goals on match day at the MCG?
CN: Definitely. The Punt Road end at the MCG is huge. I always get shivers the first roar I hear when we run out against Carlton in Round 1. I think they put a little bit more on their cheers because they’re so excited to get the season started. It will be another big crowd on Thursday night . . .
TG: What are your expectations then for the 2012 season?
CN: You just never know how a season will pan out, in terms of how other teams are going to go . . . I only know what we’re capable of doing. I feel like our best is going to be good enough to be competitive against anyone in the competition. The challenge for us is to sustain it for the whole game. We’ve shown glimpses, but we need to produce it consistently. That’s when the wins will come . . . We’ll be tested early, which is really good for the group. It will be a pretty fair indicator as to where we are at early in the season. I feel like we’re ready to go . . .
TG: If we didn’t make the final eight this year, would you remain confident of the direction the group’s headed?
CN: It’s only a matter of time before we get there. Everyone hopes it’s this year . . . As I’ve said, there’s no reason why we can’t, but you just don’t know for sure.
TG: Do the Club’s young guns genuinely excite you with respect to what they’re capable of achieving over the next few seasons?
CN: There’s a massive upside to a lot of our young players. We’ve got potential superstars in the team. I guess now it’s about trying to get some cohesion among our talented, young midfield group - to get them forming a strong bond. The best teams in the competition - Geelong, Collingwood, Hawthorn - do that. They all have really strong midfields. You see Dustin Martin, when he goes near the ball you’ve got all the confidence in the world that he’s going to make the right decision, he’s going to be clean. It’s the same with Trent (Cotchin), Nathan Foley . . . all those midfielders have got themselves to a point now where they can really take a big jump forward this year. The same applies to Ty Vickery. Ty’s coming along in leaps and bounds. It’s really hard for opposition sides to defend against him because of his big reach and his mobility. He works super hard in the gym, has bulked up, and his agility is as good as any big man in the game.
TG: You’re entering your fourth year as captain. You had a fair initiation back in 2009 when you took over as skipper with Terry Wallace departing as coach midway through the season and the team struggling. Has that held you in good stead?
CN: I think so. I’d probably rather not have gone through it at all, but it obviously happened. I was lucky at the time there were still a lot of senior heads at the Club to help me through all that. Initially, I did doubt myself a bit in the role, but now, going into my fourth year, I’m more confident than ever that, at this stage, I’m the guy for the job. And, I look forward to the challenges ahead . . .
TG: What does it mean to you to wear the captain’s No. 17 at Tigerland?
CN: It’s a bit surreal at times, when I think about it. Because I’ve always been something of late bloomer, never really a standout and previously never out the front of a group or whatever, it’s very humbling to wear the No. 17. It’s a really special feeling on game day, when the boys wait for you to come up to the front of the pack, before you lead them out. I’ll be honored when I’m finished playing to look back, knowing I was the third captain at the Club to wear the No. 17 in honor of Jack Dyer. Yeah, I love it. I won’t be letting go of the No. 17 just yet. There are a couple of the boys who are creeping up, but they can wait . . .blog comments powered by Disqus
