UNOFFICIALLY, Nic Newman is one of three new running defenders who Carlton will add for the 2019 season and beyond.

The other two? Sam Docherty and Tom Williamson.

With the pair returning from injury and Newman arriving from Sydney with just 10 minutes remaining in the trade period, the Blues have added some bounce to their back-half.

Focusing on Newman, the upside and appeal in Carlton’s newest recruit is evident.

His journey to the AFL to start with wasn’t straightforward: Newman was rookie-listed by Sydney at the end of 2014 after some standout form in the VFL with Frankston.

He spent two years at the Dolphins, winning the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal in 2014 as the competition’s most outstanding young player.

Get to know Nic Newman

Once arriving at Sydney, he was made to bide his time in the NEAFL, honing his craft across 2015 and 2016. But once he was rewarded with a senior debut, he didn’t look back.

At his best for the Swans, he made an immediate impact once in the AFL side, showing he was equally adept across half-back or on the wing.

His strength lies in his kicking, utilising his left foot to turn defence into attack at a click of the finger. Over his 31 AFL games, he has operated at over 70 percent efficiency.

At Carlton, he’ll join defensive generals Docherty and Kade Simpson as ‘metres gained’ players. In his first season, he finished fourth at the Swans - behind Jake Lloyd, Lance Franklin and Zak Jones - in the category.

Newman has some big-game experience having played three matches in September, while at 25 years of age he still has a lot of good footy ahead of him. Playing the last eight games of the year with Sydney is testament to that.

He was the last of four additions to Carlton in the trade and free agency period, and was the subject of another late trade between the Blues and Swans. The last time the two sides traded with one another saw Andrejs Everitt move to Ikon Park in the final two minutes.

For the cost of a future fourth-round pick, Newman could prove to be an astute pick-up for the Blues. 

And he has the tools to make an immediate impact.