CARLTON defender Nic Newman will hold a role on the Blues' interchange bench this year as he recovers from his knee injury.
The 32-year-old will be front and centre on matchday though, with Newman to take on a role on the bench through the season in communication between the coaches' box and players on the interchange.
It is the same position as Blues veteran Sam Docherty took on last season following his knee reconstruction in Opening Round before his finals return.
"(I'm) just trying to be another voice on the bench that players can come to and speak to, and hopefully I can contribute in some small way," Newman said when speaking to Fox Footy at half time of Friday night's practice match win over GWS in Canberra.
"I'm a bit calmer on the bench than I am on the field.
"Unfortunately I'm been through this before on my right knee, so I've got somewhat of an idea of what to expect... But my rehab's going well."
In other moves, Carlton coach Michael Voss is likely to return to the coaches' box to steer his team this year.
Voss has been coaching the Blues often from boundary-side in his first three seasons with his headset connection to assistants in the box. But this year he is expected to be based in the coaches' box as Carlton's focus sits firmly on a return to the finals as a premiership aspirant.
