Richmond captain Chris Newman couldn’t have scripted it any better for his 200th league game . . . a Blockbuster Dreamtime at the ‘G clash on Saturday night, with both teams in impressive form.

“It’s going to be a huge occasion,” Newman told his former Tiger teammate Matthew Richardson in an exclusive ‘Roar Vision’ interview on the eve of his 200th appearance in the Yellow and Black.

“The Dreamtime at the ‘G is a great thing to be part of and a huge honor for both teams involved . . . very much looking forward to getting a big crowd and a good result.

“The beauty about these Dreamtime games is that they’re usually fairly close and they are finals-like games.  Both teams play similar styles . . . it will be interesting.
“The battle will be won across all parts of the ground.  It’s obviously important for our midfield to get their hands on the footy, forwards need to convert and put some pressure on their back half, and the back half have to hold up their end.”

When ‘Richo’ asked Newman how he felt becoming just the 24th player in Richmond’s history to reach the 200-game milestone, he replied:  “It’s a funny sort of feeling . . . I never expected to even get drafted, let alone play 200 games at a club as proud and as great as Richmond.

“It is going to be a big thrill and I’ll look back at it with pride when I’m done.  But, at the moment, I’m trying to keep focus because I’ve got a job to do.”
During the thoroughly entertaining interview, ‘Newy’ also relayed the “horror” story of his first day at training with the Tigers.

“The first day at training here we went into a bit of kick-to-kick, as you do, and you’ve got to try and find a partner,” he said.

“I think everyone had found one and I was a bit nervous to tap someone on the shoulder and you (Richo) were the only one left.

“You were so flat when you had to kick with me . . . Viewers, if you kick with Matthew Richardson before training, and you miss it one centimetre left or right, he will just let it go, crack the ‘sads’, and walk after it shaking his head.”

Richo’s response was:  “Newy actually put one at my feet . . . Your first night at training, I did a ‘hammy’ because of one of your kicks.  It wasn’t a great start.  That probably explains why your first year you spent the whole year at Coburg.”
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