• Three years of heartbreaking Richmond elimination final defeats
• Every Tiger rated from the elimination final
RETIRING Richmond favourite Chris Newman was denied a fairytale finish to his 14-year career but the former skipper has left an "enormous legacy" at Punt Road Oval.
Newman did all he could in pursuit of a September win in Sunday's elimination final against North Melbourne, kicking the opening goal from 55m and winding back the clock with a terrific running goal in the second term.
Chris Newman with wife Lauren and daughter at the MCG on Sunday. All pictures: AFL Media
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Embraced by family post-match, he finishes a 268-game career without a finals win after three tries but with a reputation as a warrior who gave his all for the club.
"He's been an incredible servant of our footy club and he leaves an incredible legacy for our players," coach Damien Hardwick said after his team's heartbreaking 17-point loss at the MCG.
"I think he's probably started something here that's going to end up in something special."
"Unfortunately he will never wear the Richmond jumper again but he has left an enormous legacy at our football club," Hardwick said.
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Newman, who captained the Tigers between 2009 and 2012, embraced the Tigers faithful at the Punt Road end of the MCG post match.
Having announced his impending retirement in August, the 33-year-old has said he felt the game going past him at times this season but he did well to keep contributing in a half-forward role.
As a player he'll be remembered as a gutsy and composed rebounding defender whose left foot kick was a weapon in his prime between 2008 and 2010.
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