Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has urged the Club’s playing group to follow the lead of esteemed stalwart Chris Newman, as they strive to help the Tigers take that important next step in their football journey.
Newman bowed out of league football following a distinguished 268-game playing career, when the Tigers lost to North Melbourne by 17 points in the 2015 elimination final.
Hardwick paid a glowing tribute to him at tonight’s Jack Dyer Medal function, highlighting the key attributes that were the cornerstone of Newman’s time at Tigerland, which he hopes will help drive the playing group in 2016.
“As captain, he led this club through some of its darkest days. And, he did so with pride and courage,” Hardwick said.
“This is a man who genuinely loves his club and the jumper . . .
“When I look back on his career, a couple of things stand out.
“Firstly, he always put the Club first, and every decision he made was about what he could do to make it better.
“Secondly, he never ever gave up the fight to play in September, no matter how distant that dream might have seemed at different times.
“They are two lessons I think we should all take away from the career of Chris Newman.
“It is the second one that is particularly relevant when we reflect on season 2015.
“We lost an elimination final a few weeks back. It was the third we have lost in-a-row.
“The rest of the football world wants to point the finger at us and tell us we aren’t up to it.
“I ask you, would Chris Newman curl up in a corner and feel sorry for himself and say it’s all too hard?
“Not on your life!
“And, there is no way this Club will.
“As our song says, we’ll fight and fight and win.
“I’m up for the fight, the players are up for the fight, as is the whole club.
“Our magnificent fans expect nothing less.
“So, we will roll the sleeves up and get stuck into the hard work in a few weeks’ time . . .
“It’s about making our fans proud of their football club and honouring the legacy of players like Chris Newman, who have given their heart and soul to this club.”
Hardwick acknowledged that the Tigers had shown significant improvement over the past three years, and their playing list was still developing. But he finished his speech with a blunt message as to what was required from the players in order for the team to achieve sustained success.
“Hard work and commitment are the only answers,” he said.
“The past matters zero. What matters is what lies ahead, and taking every opportunity to make yourself better players.
“You must grab the opportunity because, as Chris Newman will tell you, one day it won’t be there.”
