Richmond veteran Chris Newman is still uncertain whether he will play on into a 16^th AFL season in 2016.

The 33-year-old missed six games with a groin strain earlier in the year, but has now strung consecutive games together against the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney.

He also missed round four with a back issue, while he suffered an abnormal heart rhythm at training prior to the season.

Newman, who has played 258 games for the Tigers since making his debut in 2002, said he would wait to see how this season panned out before making a call on next year. 

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"I'm not sure yet. Obviously I'd like to play out the season. I'd have to be playing some pretty good football to go on again, but I'm not thinking about it too much," Newman said on Tuesday. 

However, the defender said the groin issue that was bothering him earlier in the season has not caused him any concerns upon his return.

"I haven't felt any groin pain for a couple of weeks now. It was very niggly for the first part of the season and to play pain free is a real bonus," Newman said. 

"I'll have to stay on top of that with strength work, especially at my age. I've got to try to keep my body fresh."

Meanwhile, Newman nominated Shaun Hampson as one of the options to replace suspended ruckman Ivan Maric. 

"He's been playing some really good football in the VFL so he'll no doubt be putting his hand up," Newman said.

Newman and his Tiger teammates put star Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton through his paces during Tuesday's training run.

Newton, who is in Australia as part of a sponsorship deal with Gatorade, has spoken to the Tigers about leadership. 

"He spoke to the leadership group about his experiences and it's been an eye-opener for us and something we've learned a lot out of," Newman said.

Newton said he had never watched a game of AFL before attending the Collingwood-Hawthorn game at the MCG on Friday night and then the Tigers' clash with Greater Western Sydney on Saturday. 

"It's an extremely physical game," Newton said. 

"In our sport, they're constantly putting things on you to protect you. In this sport, they're taking things away.

"All they're wearing is a tank top and a pair of boxers (boxer shorts) and going out there and giving it all they have which makes them courageous."

Newton said he was impressed with the Tigers' professionalism.

"Their effort was epic," he said. "After watching film with the coaches, Chris stood out on one particular play where he dived for the ball and then ran anywhere up to 20 yards to tackle a defender to set up a goal."