Nic Newman says Carlton has the backline depth to cover the loss of star half-back Sam Docherty
New Carlton defender Nic Newman says the Blues backline isn’t feeling any added pressure after Sam Docherty’s second season-ending knee injury in as many years.
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New Carlton defender Nic Newman says the Blues will be backing their defensive stocks to step up and cover for the loss of injured leader Sam Docherty again this year.
As the Blues battled searing heat on the training track at Ikon Park, the recruit insisted the team’s backline was not feeling added pressure after Docherty was cruelled by his second knee injury in two seasons late last year.
“We’re not looking at it as added pressure. It is what it is, unfortunately it’s a part of footy and every club has guys that have injuries,’’ Newman said.
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“We’re really looking forward to having ‘Doc’ down there, he is such a leader down there, but we still really back the guys we’ve got down there.
“You look at ‘Daisy’ (Dale Thomas) and ‘Simmo’ (Kade Simpson) they are two of the most experienced on our list. Having those guys down there and even someone like Lachie Plowman, who was in our leadership group last year, we’ve got a lot of guys down there that can share the load.
“We are not looking at it as added responsibility or pressure on us, we have just got to spread the load between us … we don’t want to have to rely on Doc even if he was playing.’’
Newman arrived at the Blues via last year’s trade period from the Sydney in a last-minute trade deal. He played 31 games with the Swans after making his debut in 2017.
The 25-year-old said he had quickly adjusted to life at his new club and credited Docherty with helping him settle in.
“He has been enormous and for me as well just to learn the game plan and get different bits and pieces off him he has been great,’’ Newman said.
“His mental toughness is enormous. He could probably be excused for having a week or two off and going and having his own time, but he didn’t. He had his time off that he needed to post-surgery and he was straight back in here. I couldn’t have been more impressed with how he handled it.’’
The Blues slugged it out in almost 40 degree temperatures this morning, starting their session earlier at 8am in a bid to try and beat the heat.
After a searching session, the players cooled off after training throwing water balloons at each other.
Blues using water bombs to cool off at the end of training session in scorching heat @superfooty @heraldsunsport pic.twitter.com/9EaFkz9KKo
— Rebecca Williams (@BecHeraldSun) January 24, 2019
“It was pretty brutal, I have literally just come off the track so excuse me for the red face, I’m pretty hot,’’ Newman said.
“It was a pretty solid session. We started an hour earlier to beat the heat, but I think it was pretty impossible today. It was a really good session and we still got a fair bit out of it.’’
Newman said Sam Petrevski-Seton, Harry McKay, Zac Fisher, Charlie Curnow and Patrick Cripps had impressed him since his arrival at the club.
“Guys like Sammy Petrevski-Seton he has really stood out, he has really improve his running and he is moving across the ground really well,’’ Newman said.
“Zac Fisher does some really freakish things at training and even our big boys down forward, Harry McKay has had a really good pre-season, obviously Charlie (Curnow) everyone knows what he can do and then Gov (Mitch McGovern) from the bits and pieces I have seen has been really impressive.
“Even through to the guys like Crippa (Patrick Cripps) who obviously leads from the front, he has dropped a few kilos and he is moving really well so I have been impressed with a lot of guys.’’
Originally published as Nic Newman says Carlton has the backline depth to cover the loss of star half-back Sam Docherty
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