Chris Newman’s substitution in Sunday’s win against St Kilda was a precautionary move, according to Richmond coach Damien Hardwick.

Newman was the leading possession-winner on the ground with 21 (and a team-high five tackles), when he was handed the red vest during the third quarter of the Tigers’ 26-point win over the Saints.

However, the veteran defender is expected to lace up the boots for his 250th career match against the Sydney Swans this Saturday.

“He was just a little bit sore.  It was probably like a couple of guys, we just left them on the bench toward the end there,” Hardwick said after the game.

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“Chris had a great game.  I thought he set us up early with his run and drive off the half back.

“He’s just an important player for us.  People say he doesn’t get a lot of possessions, but it’s just his ability to set things up and be really smart with the ball offensively and defensively.

“We just had to make sure we got him through the game.”

Newman has played eight straight games for the Tigers, after calf and groin injuries saw him miss five matches in the middle part of the season.

This weekend, he will become just the 13th player in Richmond’s history to reach the 250-game milestone.