WITH Carlton missing so much experience, it needed its leaders to stand up.
As the home-and-away season came to a thrilling end, Nic Newman did exactly that.
The Blues turned to their youth with so many of their regulars unavailable, and the signs shown not only by inclusions Jaxon Binns, Cooper Lord and Ashton Moir, but also the likes of Ollie Hollands and Lachie Cowan was a massive tick for Michael Voss’ side.
In the coach’s words, the Blues found out a bit about themselves.
For them to flourish, Carlton’s senior heads needed to lead the way. In the final month, few Blues were better than the ultra-consistent Newman.
Starting with 34 disposals against Collingwood, Newman backed it up with 27 and 25 disposals in the following fortnight, before producing one of his best games in the 133 of his career to date. Equalling his career-high disposal count and taking a personal best 16 marks, Newman did everything in his power alongside his teammates to will his team over the line in a high-stakes battle.
As is always the case with Newman, it’s even more impressive when you consider just how easily the beloved Blue could’ve been doing anything else other than playing elite football.
“There are countless examples of guys that have taken a bit longer to develop, and I was definitely one of those,” Newman told Channel 7 earlier this year, which was fittingly broadcast at half time of Sunday’s game.
“I always played, but I was probably a long way off. I got a little bit of interest at 18, and then I was playing reserves in the VFL.
“After my first year [for Frankston], I was pretty close to going back to local footy and playing with my mates . . . I pulled my finger out a bit more and was lucky to get drafted as a mature-age [draftee].”
Now a Carlton centurion, Newman has been one of the astute signings for the Blues in recent seasons when he arrived from Sydney at the end of 2018 for a future fourth-round draft selection.
But if it wasn’t for some intervention from someone close to last year’s runner-up in the John Nicholls Medal, things could’ve been very different.
“My mum was the one that pushed me to go again and have another year in the VFL. I’ll be forever indebted to Mum for pushing me.
“I was a bit immature at 18, probably physically and mentally! It’s been a bit of a journey, but one I definitely wouldn’t change.”
Good on ya, Mum.
