Newman thrown West Coast lifeline
West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett says the club intends to give jailed forward Murray Newman a second chance by retaining him on its rookie list next year.
Newman's AFL career was left hanging by a thread when he was given a 12-month prison sentence in March after being found guilty of a one-punch assault outside a Northbridge nightclub.
The Swan Districts product will be eligible for parole in September after serving six months, virtually ensuring he will be released in time to start the club's next pre-season.
Nisbett had previously guaranteed Newman would remain as a rookie-listed player with the club this year, but has now given a strong indication that lifeline will be extended into 2015.
"That's our intention because one of the things we find with young people is that if you don't give them a second chance, they don't learn from it," Nisbett said.
"Just casting them aside is not going to help Murray in the future as a person.
"It certainly won't help him as a player, but it certainly won't help him as a person and we think we should give him that opportunity.
"If he's still on the rookie list next year, then so be it."
Newman is maintaining his fitness courtesy of a strength and conditioning program set by the Eagles.
The 20-year-old is also participating in weekly training sessions under the guidance of former North Melbourne forward Warren Campbell while at the Wandoo Reintegration Facility in Murdoch.
Nisbett said the young Eagle had asked to play football for the Wandoo and Wooroloo prison team in the WAAFL, but the club had denied the request.
"It's a life-changing episode," Nisbett told 6PR.
"Ten seconds of madness has put him in this position and he knows he's got to work through this.
"He won't be playing footy while he's there. We don't think he's earned that right … he has to do what everyone else has to do and get through this in the best possible way and that doesn't mean playing footy.
"He misses. He's suspended basically from playing with that team, so he'll get through his time. He can help out, he can be the runner and he can do things, but we don't think it's appropriate that he plays."
