West Adelaide youngster Madison Newman gearing up to follow in Erin Phillips’ footsteps and emulate her footballing father
Madison Newman is now only days away from learning whether her dream to play AFLW football will come true and be drafted by the Crows on Tuesday. Her dad, Steve, couldn’t be prouder.
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Back in April, the co-captain of the Adelaide Football Club’s premiership-winning women’s team stood up in front of a captivated audience after winning her second AFLW best and fairest award and gave a memorable speech.
“I’m one of three girls,” Erin Phillips said.
“My dad obviously played footy and when I was born people felt sorry for him because he didn’t have a son to play footy and some day carry the Phillips name … (now) we can stick it up those people that said that to you.”
Watching that speech back in Adelaide was teenager Madison Newman, whose dedication to playing footy had just stepped up a notch.
Phillips’ words resonated with her: “I’m one of three girls too … I feel like Erin’s speech really spoke to me and my dad, Steve, because we’re in the same sort of position.
“My dad played 300 games for his local footy club (Morphett Vale FC) and captained the side for a few years, so he’s got a good history with footy so I guess I’ve taken after him.
“I was always around the footy club with dad when I was younger and all of his teammates had their little boys kicking the footy and I’d be kicking the footy with dad, and all his teammates would be like: ‘Oh, your girl’s playing footy?’ And he’d be like, ‘Yeah, she is, what wrong with that?’
“We feel like we’ve achieved a lot because we’ve overcome those sorts of comments and the stigma around girls’ footy.
“That was a really good speech and a lot of girls would feel like they’re in the same sort of boat.”
Newman, 18, is a 168cm rebounding defender for West Adelaide in the SANFLW, whose 2019 season has been a standout, culminating in under-18 All-Australian selection and an invitation to the AFLW Draft Combine earlier this month.
She is now on the cusp of playing at the top level, widely tipped to be drafted by the Crows into their star-studded AFLW team on Tuesday.
But it wasn’t always destined to be: “Last year, I wasn’t really going anywhere with footy, but at the start of this pre-season, me and dad sat down and set some goals that I wanted to achieve and one of them was making the Combine.
“Also I wanted to get into the All-Australian team and I achieved that and also to get into the SANFLW team of the year.”
The last goal on her list was to be drafted: “But I’m not sure about that one yet; hopefully I’ll be able to tick that one off.”
Newman finished Yr 12 at Brighton Secondary School last year and has spent her gap year working on her football.
“(Finishing school) means it’s been a lot less stressful for me and I’ve just wanted to focus on footy.
“One of my best mates from Westies (Emma Smith), we were together every day of the pre-season, running together, in the gym together and had the same sort of mindset.
“I’m really happy that I took the time to train and work hard and get my body right.”
Online scout notes describe Newman — known as Maddi — as having the most elite kick of any player in the South Australian under-18 team.
She credits her kicking technique to her father.
“Dad and I would always be out the back kicking the footy, actually I think I dragged him out there … after school, before school, on the weekends.
“I was around footy a lot when I was younger, so it was easy for me. I think that helped me with my kicking to help me to get where I am now.”
After playing junior football, Newman turned to cricket because of the more obvious pathway. She excelled making state teams and an Australian youth development squad.
“But I just didn’t have the same love for cricket that I did for footy,” she says when explaining why she gave it away.
”Footy’s always been my number one.”
Steve, couldn’t be prouder of the determination shown by his daughter in chasing her football dreams.
“I never imagined that I would be watching any of my girls play football at a senior level with other girls,” he said.
“The funniest thing to ever come out of her mouth was when she was six or seven and she was about to go to bed.
“She was a bit upset and said she was worried about something and I asked her what and she said: ‘I don’t want to be drafted by Essendon’. Unbelievable.
“That was 13 years ago and she obviously had it in her head even back then that it didn’t matter if you were a boy or a girl, you could play AFL.
“We joke about it now that she plays for West Adelaide, which has Essendon’s colours and the same colours as Morphett Vale as well.
“I’m very proud. And I suppose what excites me the most is how I can see how much she loves playing and being around like-minded girls and women who have been hanging out for an opportunity to play footy.”
Newman also credits current Crows players Ebony Marinoff and Courtney Cramey — who are involved in state junior football — in helping her development.
“They’ve taught me that if you work hard for what you want, then you’re going to get it, but you can’t expect your talent to carry you the whole way. You have to have talent and work ethic and be able to work hard.”
*The AFLW Draft is on Tuesday, October 22 and will being livestreamed by the AFL from 10.10am.
Crows have eight picks: 14, 37, 46, 53, 68, 83, 100, 102.