Leigh Newton (born 25 March 1976) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A ruckman, Newton played 13 matches for Melbourne in his first season at the club, 1997. He was struck down by injuries the next two seasons, which resulted in him not playing a senior match. Melbourne delisted Newton at the end of 1999. Despite this, Newton remained with the club for many years, working as a ruck coach and media manager, before moving to become Hawthorn's ruck coach in 2009.
Newton is originally from Whitfield, a small town of around 200 people, located near Wangaratta in north-eastern Victoria.[2][3] He began playing football for King Valley United Football Club, located near his hometown of Whitfield, in the Ovens & King Football League; he first played senior football at the age of 15.[4] Later he moved to play for the larger Albury Football Club in the Ovens & Murray Football League,[2] before being selected to play for the Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup. Newton played for Albury and for the Bushrangers in 1996,[5] earning the attention of AFL recruiters by winning the award for the best and fairest player in the Ovens & Murray Football League, the Morris Medal.[6] Despite not being selected in the 1996 AFL draft, Newton was invited to do a pre-season with Melbourne in the hope of being selected in the pre-season draft. He had an impressive pre-season; his track work was described as "stunning", he put on a lot of muscle and he played well in intra-club practice matches.[4][7][8] As a result, Melbourne selected Newton with their first selection (third overall) in the pre-season draft, to be a back-up for Brownlow Medal winner, Jim Stynes.[9]
AFL careeredit
One week after being drafted, Newton played in Melbourne's only 1997 Ansett Australia Cup match, a loss to Carlton.[10] Having been dubbed Melbourne's "key signing" of the off-season, the expectation at the start of the season was that Newton would "play at some stage".[11][12] Newton made his AFL debut in round 3 against Sydney, kicking a goal with his first kick. He remained in the side for the next two matches before being dropped for round 6. Newton was back in the team the following week against Fremantle and his performance was described as "encourag[ing]".[13] Two weeks later, Newton kicked two of Melbourne's three goals in a big loss to Port Adelaide.[14] In round 10, after playing in five consecutive losses to begin his career, Newton played in his first AFL victory in a match where he was occasionally a tall target in Melbourne's forward line.[15] At the halfway mark of the season, Newton's "encouraging" form was described as one of the few good points of the Demons' disappointing season.[16] Newton missed the next three games after his first win, but was recalled to the side in round 14 and remained in it until round 20, kicking three goals in the seven matches. He was injured in the round 20 game against West Coast and subsequently missed the rest of the season.[2][17]
After a promising first season in which he played 13 games, Newton was expected to improve in 1998 and become a regular in the side. However, he was sidelined by a groin strain early in the season,[18] which recurred regularly throughout 1998. Newton was only able to return to the reserves in mid-July.[19] His groin injury then flared up again and, by August, it became so bad that he was required to miss the rest of the season.[20] After his horror 1998 season, Newton had a much better pre-season for 1999. He played in a practice match against Fremantle[21] and was considered to be on track to play in round 1.[22] Midway through April, Newton played his first full game in the reserves, kicking four goals in the process,[23] only for a hernia operation to sideline him for a month.[24] He returned to the reserves in June,[25] but then suffered a shoulder injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season.[26] After two injury-riddled seasons where he was unable to make a senior appearance, Newton was delisted by the Demons at the end of 1999.[27] He nominated for the pre-season draft,[28] but went undrafted and so retired from football.
Post-AFL careeredit
In 2003, Newton was appointed Melbourne's media manager,[29] a role he filled for six seasons. In conjunction with his media responsibilities, Newton also became the Demons' ruck coach in 2008.[30] Newton left the Demons at the end of 2008, becoming the ruck coach at Hawthorn[31] and public relations and marketing executive at the Moonee Valley Racing Club.[32]
Personal lifeedit
Newton's three brothers, Michael,[n 1] Cohan and Brent, were all accomplished country football players in the Ovens & King Football League and Ovens & Murray Football League.[34][35] Newton's father, Laurie, played football for Wangaratta Football Club in the Ovens & Murray Football League.[35]
^Geoff McClure (3 December 2004). "Sporting life". The Age. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
^ abcHolmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (7th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Bas Publishing. p. 586. ISBN978-1-920910-78-5.
^Reilly, Stephen (5 February 1999). "Knights doubt for start". The Age. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
^ abMithen, Anthony (19 February 1997). "Country boy muscles his way into big time". The Age. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
^Denham, Greg (18 February 1997). "Ex-Crows skipper set for Swans". The Age. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
leigh, newton, born, march, 1976, former, australian, rules, footballer, played, melbourne, football, club, australian, football, league, ruckman, newton, played, matches, melbourne, first, season, club, 1997, struck, down, injuries, next, seasons, which, resu. Leigh Newton born 25 March 1976 is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League AFL A ruckman Newton played 13 matches for Melbourne in his first season at the club 1997 He was struck down by injuries the next two seasons which resulted in him not playing a senior match Melbourne delisted Newton at the end of 1999 Despite this Newton remained with the club for many years working as a ruck coach and media manager before moving to become Hawthorn s ruck coach in 2009 Leigh NewtonPersonal informationFull nameLeigh NewtonNickname s Juice 1 Date of birth 1976 03 25 25 March 1976 age 47 Original team s King Valley Albury Murray BushrangersDraft3rd overall 1997 Pre season draft Melbourne Height198 cm 6 ft 6 in Weight103 kg 227 lb Position s RuckPlaying career1YearsClubGames Goals 1997 1999Melbourne13 6 1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1997 Sources AFL Tables AustralianFootball com Contents 1 Early life 2 AFL career 3 Post AFL career 4 Personal life 5 Footnotes 6 External linksEarly life editNewton is originally from Whitfield a small town of around 200 people located near Wangaratta in north eastern Victoria 2 3 He began playing football for King Valley United Football Club located near his hometown of Whitfield in the Ovens amp King Football League he first played senior football at the age of 15 4 Later he moved to play for the larger Albury Football Club in the Ovens amp Murray Football League 2 before being selected to play for the Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup Newton played for Albury and for the Bushrangers in 1996 5 earning the attention of AFL recruiters by winning the award for the best and fairest player in the Ovens amp Murray Football League the Morris Medal 6 Despite not being selected in the 1996 AFL draft Newton was invited to do a pre season with Melbourne in the hope of being selected in the pre season draft He had an impressive pre season his track work was described as stunning he put on a lot of muscle and he played well in intra club practice matches 4 7 8 As a result Melbourne selected Newton with their first selection third overall in the pre season draft to be a back up for Brownlow Medal winner Jim Stynes 9 AFL career editOne week after being drafted Newton played in Melbourne s only 1997 Ansett Australia Cup match a loss to Carlton 10 Having been dubbed Melbourne s key signing of the off season the expectation at the start of the season was that Newton would play at some stage 11 12 Newton made his AFL debut in round 3 against Sydney kicking a goal with his first kick He remained in the side for the next two matches before being dropped for round 6 Newton was back in the team the following week against Fremantle and his performance was described as encourag ing 13 Two weeks later Newton kicked two of Melbourne s three goals in a big loss to Port Adelaide 14 In round 10 after playing in five consecutive losses to begin his career Newton played in his first AFL victory in a match where he was occasionally a tall target in Melbourne s forward line 15 At the halfway mark of the season Newton s encouraging form was described as one of the few good points of the Demons disappointing season 16 Newton missed the next three games after his first win but was recalled to the side in round 14 and remained in it until round 20 kicking three goals in the seven matches He was injured in the round 20 game against West Coast and subsequently missed the rest of the season 2 17 After a promising first season in which he played 13 games Newton was expected to improve in 1998 and become a regular in the side However he was sidelined by a groin strain early in the season 18 which recurred regularly throughout 1998 Newton was only able to return to the reserves in mid July 19 His groin injury then flared up again and by August it became so bad that he was required to miss the rest of the season 20 After his horror 1998 season Newton had a much better pre season for 1999 He played in a practice match against Fremantle 21 and was considered to be on track to play in round 1 22 Midway through April Newton played his first full game in the reserves kicking four goals in the process 23 only for a hernia operation to sideline him for a month 24 He returned to the reserves in June 25 but then suffered a shoulder injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season 26 After two injury riddled seasons where he was unable to make a senior appearance Newton was delisted by the Demons at the end of 1999 27 He nominated for the pre season draft 28 but went undrafted and so retired from football Post AFL career editIn 2003 Newton was appointed Melbourne s media manager 29 a role he filled for six seasons In conjunction with his media responsibilities Newton also became the Demons ruck coach in 2008 30 Newton left the Demons at the end of 2008 becoming the ruck coach at Hawthorn 31 and public relations and marketing executive at the Moonee Valley Racing Club 32 Personal life editNewton s three brothers Michael n 1 Cohan and Brent were all accomplished country football players in the Ovens amp King Football League and Ovens amp Murray Football League 34 35 Newton s father Laurie played football for Wangaratta Football Club in the Ovens amp Murray Football League 35 Footnotes editNotes Not to be confused with former Melbourne player Michael Newton 33 References Geoff McClure 3 December 2004 Sporting life The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 a b c Holmesby Russell Main Jim 2007 The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers every AFL VFL player since 1897 7th ed Melbourne Victoria Bas Publishing p 586 ISBN 978 1 920910 78 5 Reilly Stephen 5 February 1999 Knights doubt for start The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 a b Mithen Anthony 19 February 1997 Country boy muscles his way into big time The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 Denham Greg 18 February 1997 Ex Crows skipper set for Swans The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 Football Albury Tigers Retrieved 14 May 2011 Niall Jake 9 February 1997 Demons may take a rookie in draft The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 Denham Greg 17 February 1997 Pyman bids for No 3 The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 Who your team drafted The Age 19 February 1997 Retrieved 12 April 2011 Denham Greg 25 February 1997 Madden left out as Blues bring on young ruckmen The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 Wright Gerard 29 March 1997 Movers and shakers The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 12 April 2011 Pearce Linda 23 March 1997 The Demons The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 East Alan 10 May 1997 The laugh s on dismal Demons The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 Shiel Alan 23 May 1997 Power cuts loose over Melbourne The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 Johnson Len 1 June 1997 Fired up Demons slay pathetic Tigers The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 Teams progress and predictions for this season so far The Age 21 June 1997 Retrieved 12 April 2011 Reilly Stephen 21 August 1997 Top sides take on finals strength The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 Your club The Age 8 March 1998 Retrieved 12 April 2011 Your club daily news on every AFL club The Age 14 July 1998 Retrieved 12 April 2011 Your club daily news on every AFL club The Age 11 August 1998 Retrieved 12 April 2011 Your club The Age 17 March 1999 Retrieved 12 April 2011 Denham Greg 9 March 1999 Crows lose goalsneak Vardy for five games The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 Your club The Age 13 April 1999 Retrieved 12 April 2011 Your club The Age 11 May 1999 Retrieved 12 April 2011 Happell Charles 17 June 1999 Big three off track but on target The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 AFL injury list The Age 29 June 1999 Retrieved 12 April 2011 Connolly Rohan 24 February 2000 Melbourne countdown to 2000 The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 Lyon Karen 14 December 1999 The closure of Saint Francis The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 Oakes Dan 2 April 2003 Your club news on every club The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 Sheridan Nick 18 May 2008 Demons White knight tackles tough times with a leap of faith The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 Matthews Bruce 20 November 2008 Flag now history Hawks skipper Sam Mitchell Herald Sun Retrieved 12 April 2011 Eva Bruce 10 May 2009 Pssst The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 Quayle Emma 21 November 2004 The draft in a nutshell The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 Daffey Paul 14 July 2007 McLaren to lead VCFL against amateurs The Age Retrieved 12 April 2011 a b Brent Newton Wangaratta Football amp Netball Club Retrieved 14 May 2011 External links editLeigh Newton s profile on the Melbourne Football Club website Leigh Newton s playing statistics from AFL Tables Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leigh Newton amp oldid 1153583215, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
