TonyK
CibbuanoTigers appoint Newman
November 19th 2008 02:46
RICHMOND defender Chris Newman has been named as the club's new captain following the decision by the skipper of the past four years in Kane Johnson to step down.
Newman, who won the Tigers' most courageous player award this season just two years after suffering a career-threatening broken leg midway through the 2006 season, becomes Richmond's 39th captain in the club's 100 years in the AFL.
The 26-year-old will wear the No.17 jumper - worn by club legend Jack Dyer - which is always allocated to the Richmond skipper.
Newman is Richmond's youngest captain since Tony Free was appointed at the age of 24 in 1994.
Midfielder Nathan Foley, who shared the vice captaincy with Newman this season is now the Tigers' sole vice-captain while fellow midfielder and this year's best-and-fairest winner Brett Deledio and promising defender Kelvin Moore have been elevated to the leadership group.
Richmond coach Terry Wallace said Newman was the right man for the job.
"We just think that Chris sets the example as how the game should be played, certainly the way we want the game to be played at the Richmond footy club," Wallace said.
"He's hard-nosed, he's got a strong approach, he always puts his head over the football.
"When it's pressure times in games you can always rely on Chris to do the right thing."
Newman said it was a 'massive honour' to be named captain and that anything less than a finals appearance for the club in 2009 would be considered a failure.
"It is such a massive honour and I'm really grateful to the club for putting such trust in me," Newman said.
"You don't want to be making any bold statements this early in the year but I think not playing finals next year would be a step down."
"We just want to continue on with those building blocks we set last season."
Newman, who won the Tigers' most courageous player award this season just two years after suffering a career-threatening broken leg midway through the 2006 season, becomes Richmond's 39th captain in the club's 100 years in the AFL.
The 26-year-old will wear the No.17 jumper - worn by club legend Jack Dyer - which is always allocated to the Richmond skipper.
Newman is Richmond's youngest captain since Tony Free was appointed at the age of 24 in 1994.
Midfielder Nathan Foley, who shared the vice captaincy with Newman this season is now the Tigers' sole vice-captain while fellow midfielder and this year's best-and-fairest winner Brett Deledio and promising defender Kelvin Moore have been elevated to the leadership group.
Richmond coach Terry Wallace said Newman was the right man for the job.
"We just think that Chris sets the example as how the game should be played, certainly the way we want the game to be played at the Richmond footy club," Wallace said.
"He's hard-nosed, he's got a strong approach, he always puts his head over the football.
"When it's pressure times in games you can always rely on Chris to do the right thing."
Newman said it was a 'massive honour' to be named captain and that anything less than a finals appearance for the club in 2009 would be considered a failure.
"It is such a massive honour and I'm really grateful to the club for putting such trust in me," Newman said.
"You don't want to be making any bold statements this early in the year but I think not playing finals next year would be a step down."
"We just want to continue on with those building blocks we set last season."
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