Former Richmond skipper Chris Newman on working with the man who beat him to Tigers’ top job

It would’ve been easy for Chris Newman to head back to Hawthorn after Adem Yze beat him to the top job. Instead, they’re working together. The former Richmond skipper opens up on the decision.

Hawks coach Sam Mitchell and coach Chris Newman. Picture: Michael Klein

Strictly speaking, Chris Newman signed up at Richmond only weeks after they had rejected him as senior coach late last year.

It would have been so easy to lick his wounds after missing out to Adem Yze and return to the exciting young Hawthorn list as Sam Mitchell’s lieutenant.

Yet as the club’s 2024 campaign begins, the Richmond favourite son will be bedecked in yellow and black again.

For Newman it is a canny move given the shift into coaching a senior midfield for the first time.

And swallowing his pride?

Not for the pragmatic Newman, who at only 41 is surely destined for a senior coaching gig if only he bides his time.

Not only does he get to round out his line coaching portfolio, he gets to pick the brains of former senior coaches Ben Rutten and David Teague and the highs and lows of their short stints in charge.

“It’s been great. It’s an opportunity to work with ‘Ooze” again but it was still a pretty tough decision,” he told this masthead.

Back in yellow and black, Chris Newman has returned to Punt Road. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“I loved my time at the Hawks and it was so good for my development. I had great relationship with Sam and (football boss) Rob McCartney in particular.

“But it was the right decision in terms of my coaching career and. The time was right and I am enjoying the change. The midfield is another different challenge and a refreshing one. I have really loved it.”

Newman’s 268 games as a dependable Richmond backman and club captain morphed into a long spell at Hawthorn as a development coach, Box Hill coach, then backline and forward coach.

It meant he was perfectly positioned when Damien Hardwick moved on as he, Yze and interim coach Andrew McQualter went through a prolonged Richmond coaching process.

“It’s the first job I have really gone for and I really loved it. Even just sitting through those interviews and the process has been really beneficial for my development. It also gives you time to get everything aligned. What are your thoughts on the game, how do you want your teams to look? During the year you are caught up in the cycle of the game. You take bits and pieces from books, from podcasts. But it was a good opportunity to get my values aligned. Hone in on what I value as a coach. It was my first process so it was a bit nerve-racking.

“If anything it did intensify my desire to coach. Coaching my own team really benefited me at VFL level and it’s a totally different beast at AFL, but the timing feels right, and that’s why I came here. It certainly gives me lots of room for growth.

Former Tigers skipper and now assistant coach Chris Newman. Picture: Richmond Media/RichmondFC.com.au

Richmond’s midfield is intriguing – established players Dustin Martin, Tim Taranto, Dion Prestia, Jake Hopper and Jack Graham, mid-tier players like Jack Ross and up-and-comers like Thomson Dow, Tyler Sonsie and impressive first-year mid Kane McAuliffe.

Dow has had a huge summer of progress – set to be tested against Melbourne and Collingwood in coming weeks – while North Adelaide’s pick 40 McAuliffe has been exceptional in summer scrimmages.

Dustin Martin will play more mid this year as Shai Bolton plays almost exclusively as a small forward.

“Dusty is at a pretty high level at the moment. He doesn’t look like he’s lost any ability to play the game. More exposure inside helps him be around the ball. It gives us a first look and he can win the footy but when he receives it he is so composed with ball in hand.”

Best-and-fairest winner Tim Taranto put together an awesome debut season at Richmond and Newman is less worried about his polish with ball in hand than his critics.

“I didn’t appreciate the amount of work Tim does with his work ethic on the ground. He has an unbelievable ability to get from contest to contest to outwork his opponent.

“I didn’t see enough of him last year, but I have not had one issue. I have not had one issue. I have been really impressed by his kicking. His delivery inside 50 is very good and he is in a lot of pressure situations so he needs to sum up what is best for the team.”