OVER his time in the AFL, Nic Newman has owned the fact that things haven’t come easy for him.

Overlooked in the draft, his first two years in the AFL without a senior game, consistently surviving and thriving with one-year contract extensions.

Yet even he admits that when he ruptured the patella in his left knee - the opposite to the one he ruptured in 2020 - the doubts came thick and fast. On the back of what were undoubtedly the best two seasons, he questioned in that very instant whether his career was over.

Conceding that the injury was “devastating”, Newman - speaking to close mate and fellow former Swan Tom Mitchell on the Ball Magnets podcast - opened up on that day back in January… and the months since.

WATCH THE FULL BALL MAGNETS EPISODE WITH NIC NEWMAN HERE

“Within 20-25 seconds, I looked down and as I saw the dent start to appear… that’s when I quickly realised. By the time I walked off the ground, I knew - it was the second session back in January, I had done a lot of work and I was in the best shape I’d been in.

“With the right knee [in 2020], I was playing some okay footy and I was 27, so I felt like I had a bit of time. This one happened in pre-season after having two good years, I felt great physically and with a young daughter now.

“You naturally think you’re going to roll in and have another great year - your life gets turned on its head pretty quickly.”

Newman conceded that one of the toughest parts was calling fiancé Sam, with newborn daughter Audrey just three months old at the time.

What Newman has been able to take comfort from is how much smoother this process has been compared to five years ago, having also approached it that he emerged from the corresponding injury five years ago with flying colours.

“While going through the right knee has helped me with my rehab, it was also pretty scary early on because I was a lot worse with my right - I had a tiny bit different surgery, I was in a straight-leg brace and in pain for three or four weeks. Having to retell my partner on a random Wednesday that I’m going to have surgery in two days… that was the hardest phone call.

“It has been really comforting this time through my rehab knowing that I’ve come out of this injury before, played better footy and have felt great physically. I felt better prepared going into this rehab, I’ve attacked it better and it’s gone a lot smoother: I feel like I’m really well-placed to come out of this and play some really good footy again.”

That steel has been forged throughout not only Newman’s time in the AFL, but his pathway to get there. A story told often in recent years - particularly on the back of consecutive runner-up finishes in the John Nicholls Medal - Newman had to do it the hard way.

He’s been able to draw on those experiences when going through the tough times, that has since seen him carve out over 100 games in the Navy Blue at the elite level. For him, however, it was the moments early in his time at Sydney that forged the mindset he finds himself in today.

“I came to a club that had just made a Grand Final - I didn’t walk in there expecting to play. While very frustrating for those two years, it was a blessing and held me in such good stead for the rest of my career. I honestly believe that… I know some people don’t.

“I do feel it has helped me throughout my career, not only playing AFL but going through the hard way to play AFL. When there are hard times - like what I’m going through at the moment - I’ve dealt with that stuff before, so it’s fine.”

Newman also hasn’t allowed the injury to get him down, combining his rehab and dad time with his coaching role on match days.

It hasn’t been without its challenges, but it has allowed Newman to stay engaged and energised throughout the 2025 campaign to date.

“The lead-up [to games] is the hardest part. The warm-up inside, I love the build-up of playing, like going out for a kick and looking out at the crowd - that’s the hard part where you feel like you’re missing out.

“I’ve found during the game I’m fine, because I’m locked in… when I’m on the bench in the heat of the game, I really enjoy it. It’s kept me involved, given me a bit of purpose that I can I have some small impact.”