Injury Blue Healers Discussion - 2025

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

Newman has spent time with both the AFLW and AFL players in a coaching/development capacity in his time over the past years..
No doubt he will make a contribution in a few areas while on the sidelines…

 

[AT97]

Comparison of Docherty and Newman in the same role. Docherty All Australian and Newman 2nd in our best and fairest. Both very good players and Newman is a loss but we have great cover here. I'm backing in Cowan to really step up.

IMHO - problem with losing Newman is (amongst other things) we have lost our backlines best and most creative kick. Docherty does not use the ball well enough and I haven't really seen Cowan show the same kicking ability to this point. I think best chance of replacing Newmans kicking is have Boyd given the role. He has shown in the past he’s prepared to take the difficult option and has the kick to pull it off.

Just wish Weitering would have more of a go at the difficult option…I think he’s a very good kick, also.

 

[SurreyBlue]

No doubt, we cannot replace Nic overnight but for me, next man up is Boyd. He has the game to replace Newman.
I feel Cowan is still developing and is more a shut down player at this moment. Has a big future but will need a couple more seasons. I expect Cincotta to play back when available and it’s time Saad replayed some ROI by leading the smalls.
Will be interesting to see if Wilson, Lucas or Charleson make any inroads and of course what role Ollie plays when back.

Some real options and plenty for the coaches to work with. Just an exciting list!!

 

[Arr0w]

IMHO - problem with losing Newman is (amongst other things) we have lost our backlines best and most creative kick. Docherty does not use the ball well enough and I haven't really seen Cowan show the same kicking ability to this point. I think best chance of replacing Newmans kicking is have Boyd given the role. He has shown in the past he’s prepared to take the difficult option and has the kick to pull it off.

Just wish Weitering would have more of a go at the difficult option…I think he’s a very good kick, also.

Long overdue, but we need someone to play on the gorillas and or the main KPD stopper

I really want to see Weitering at CHB and or on the 2nd KPF, where he can be more the interceptor

 

[haveago]

Newman is a loss but I don’t buy the experience angle.

When a defence has Weitering McGovern Saad Haynes Silvagni Docherty as options then experience is not a concern for me

Going to be very interesting as to how we cover for Newy....... Doc is the obvious one but I am concerned he might not be able to get back to where he was a few years ago.

How has he looked at training Soapy?

Match sims and preseason games will show us a bit as to where he is at six months on from that elimination final
performance that was sadly, very poor. (should never have played, was not ready)

Fingers crossed we get Doc back somewhere near his best, that would be huge.

 

[Soapy V]

Going to be very interesting as to how we cover for Newy....... Doc is the obvious one but I am concerned he might not be able to get back to where he was a few years ago.

How has he looked at training Soapy?

Match sims and preseason games will show us a bit as to where he is at six months on from that elimination final
performance that was sadly, very poor. (should never have played, was not ready)

Fingers crossed we get Doc back somewhere near his best, that would be huge.

Docherty is flying. Hasn’t missed a beat.

I think people forget how good he really is. He is a genuine star and will add so much to our side

Been training with mids and wing so will be interesting to see if that changes

 

[Opium]

Docherty is flying. Hasn’t missed a beat.

I think people forget how good he really is. He is a genuine star and will add so much to our side

Been training with mids and wing so will be interesting to see if that changes

Genuinely can't see why we would be training Doc as a mid. We have more than enough players to rotate through.

He's an All Australian HBF. Let's play him in his best position.

 

[Soapy V]

Genuinely can't see why we would be training Doc as a mid. We have more than enough players to rotate through.

He's an All Australian HBF. Let's play him in his best position.

I’d prefer him across HB but he’s a star whenever he plays. He’s a bit of point of difference in midfield but with Elijah Lord & Smith coming on he may be able to go back

May rest on how Ollie Wilson Boyd Saad L.Campo Cincotta step up as defenders?

I reckon Cincotta would be a great Newman replacement but sadly he will miss pre season at least.

Positive is Doc can step into any role at anytime and without training there. He’s got the experience and ability

 

[Coona Blues]

I think many posters are forgetting the fact that Newman genuinely has spent a decent portion of the pre season training with the mids. The coaching group has already explored structures without Newy playing back. Not sure exactly how or why it was to play out, but was definitely the case. Can confirm happened on the Sunshine Coast after earlier reports of the same.

He is a quality player and will be missed, but I am hopeful of a quality working structure being maintained. We have a number or players who can step up. Thinking Nick Haynes will bring plenty to the group to offset the leadership deficit.

 

[marcmurphy3]

Doc wing or back might depend who we prefer out of the depth group in those positions, as he can play either. Do we want to get Binns/Lucas in the team on a wing or Boyd/Wilson at HB?

 

[BlueTongue]

Long overdue, but we need someone to play on the gorillas and or the main KPD stopper

I really want to see Weitering at CHB and or on the 2nd KPF, where he can be more the interceptor

200% ^ THIS!
Weiters Kicking is pretty damn good.
Not sure if JSOS is being groomed for the KPD Stopper role but I think he'd be good at it.

 

[gbatman]

IMHO - problem with losing Newman is (amongst other things) we have lost our backlines best and most creative kick. Docherty does not use the ball well enough and I haven't really seen Cowan show the same kicking ability to this point. I think best chance of replacing Newmans kicking is have Boyd given the role. He has shown in the past he’s prepared to take the difficult option and has the kick to pull it off.

Just wish Weitering would have more of a go at the difficult option…I think he’s a very good kick, also.

Get the ball into Cowan's hands more, great kick. Boyd is a good one to have the ball in hand.

 

[Soapy V]

Get the ball into Cowan's hands more, great kick. Boyd is a good one to have the ball in hand.

Weitering Boyd Cowan Saad McGovern are all good users. Ollies ball use has improved a lot and Wilson is also a smart ball user as well and Haynes is no slouch.

IMO we need more run from defence

 

[sosos]

Newman. Love how he does his work. Tough, skilful, nasty, and smart. Hard to replace.

But noticed last year, at times, he was Young like at slowing play out from the back line.

Feel like that might have been also poor options ahead, which you can't see on the TV stream (I didn't get to many games last year).

Someone suggested Boyd take his role, and I like it, as he has the run Newman lacked, and excellent disposal. Just needs some maturity.

What we really lose with the injury is his ability to organise the half back line.

People saying play Doch there, and sure, he has the organisational ability of Newman, but those people are maybe forgetting his blind helicopters out of the defence that so often just came straight back.

He's been training wing, and mid, so I don't reckon they'll go with Doch down back.

Haynes experience will really help I think. Not that he can play Newman's role, more that he can maybe help Boyd, or the other name suggested, Cowan to take the right option.