To the overwhelmingly pro-Richmond crowd at last night’s blockbuster against Carlton (and those many Tiger fans watching the telecast), the frantic final minutes may have caused their respective heart-rates to go through the roof, but for respected Tiger veteran Chris Newman, who was in the heat of the battle down back, it was quite a different story.

“I had supreme confidence,” Newman told former teammate Matthew Richardson in a post-match interview on Channel 7.

“I know it was a tight game, but I thought we really showed a lot of heart and played for the jumper in the last five minutes, in particular.

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“Some of the guys that stood up, like Ben Griffiths and Ricky Petterd – those type of players – I think they really epitomised what the jumper stands for to us, and that’s what we needed to get over the line.”

Newman trained throughout the pre-season to play a different role up forward, and he lined up there in the season-opener against Gold Coast.

Last night, however, he found himself back in familiar territory in Richmond’s defensive area, where he used his vast experience and football nous to full advantage for the team.

“I played a little bit forward, but predominantly in the back half tonight.  I think, with Alex Rance out (injured), we just lacked a bit of experience back there, so that’s why I got to go back,” Newman said.

“Look, I’m not sure where I’ll go (in the coming rounds).  I think I’ll sort of swing from position to position throughout the year.”