Crowing about the Newman catching headlines - How Maddi Newman has reached career-best form for the Crows
Written by Will Faulkner
As a player who is consistently improving her game and taking advice from her support staff, Adelaide Crows player Maddi Newman is any coach’s dream.
In her third year on the Crows’ playing list, the 20-year-old has taken on more challenges than most of her teammates and rival players.
A shoulder surgery last year and some hard conversations with coaching staff have made for an even sweeter return to AFLW level this season, as the Brighton High prodigy pushes to lock down a spot in her side’s best 21.
A talented sports player from a young age, Maddi was gifted on both the football and cricketing field.
Playing the two sports with the boys at school and dad at home was always something she enjoyed throughout childhood.
It wasn’t until age 16 when Maddi attended her first couple of state footy training, where she realised she had the capacity to play the sport professionally.
“I enjoyed playing cricket [when I was younger] too, but I never quite got the same enjoyment out of it as footy,” said Maddi when asked why she pursued AFL.
Drafted in 2019 to the Adelaide Crows as a half-back and winger, Maddi’s role at the club is very similar to fellow South Australian and Featuring Faulks member Charlie Parker.
Maddi with father Steve Newman in her playing days before getting drafted - Photo credit: AAP
She made her debut in Round 1 of 2020, with a solid contribution of 10 disposals and two tackles against a strong Brisbane Lions outfit.
13 disposals and a goal in Round 2 gave fans a glimpse of her potential, before playing her last game of the year in Round 5.
Inconsistencies in her game across the 2020 and 2021 seasons were notably frustrating for Newman, and were amplified after a shoulder injury last year that required surgery.
“Missing finals and my shoulder injury last year were two really big hurdles for me personally,”
“From a form point of view, not being good enough to be picked was a really hard pill to swallow,” Maddi exclaimed on her 2021 season.
However, it was how she responded recently that has shown supporters a more realistic look at how talented the Crow is. Taking on feedback from her support staff has been a strong point of Maddi’s since arriving at West Lakes, and she says that she has learned considerable amounts on her game from it.
Persistence has been a characterstic engrained in Newman's professional profile so far - Photo credit: Kelly Barnes
“If I didn’t get dropped and receive the feedback that I did, I wouldn’t have been able to go back and work on my areas that needed improving.”
Like any strong club, support from players as much as their staff is paramount to achieving success at season’s end.
Newman found some of her greatest encouragement within the club from fellow defender Sarah Allan.
At age 24, Allan is as accredited as they come for an AFLW player; and it’s easy to see why her advice would be treated as gospel by teammates.
A two-time premiership player, two-time All-Australian and a Rising Star nominee in 2018, Maddi says Sarah has helped her fit into the mould of being a professional footballer ‘very well’.
“She’s a quiet person, so whenever you hear her speak you know it’s going to be important”, spoke Maddi of 2016 draftee Sarah Allan.
The added confidence provided to Newman has helped her answer one of the hardest questions an athlete can ask themselves; ‘what sets myself apart from my competitors?’
For Maddi, the answer was her football IQ.
Having played the game for longer than most of her teammates and opponents, she has been able to develop her match awareness and intelligence further than most.
“I guess my general footy IQ is an asset of mine. Some girls come from a basketball background or other sports, which helps me in comparison.”
Like many workplaces though, it’s important to adjust to the developing environment – and AFLW is no different.
Its evolution in the last few years has been exponential, with Maddi pointing towards talent pathways as part of the reason for the game’s rapid progression.
Ready to crow - Maddi has been in great form so far in season 2022 - Photo credit: AFL Photos
“The last couple of seasons, you can really tell that the skills have all gone up a level”
The growing market, skill level and attraction of AFLW mean that goals for up-and-coming players like Maddi are more short-term than long.
Her growing confidence and new lively presence in the Crows’ forward line have been hard to take your eyes off in recent weeks, with strong back-to-back games over the last fortnight.
“Hopefully this season I can play as many games as possible, and be part of a premiership this year”, an excited Newman said.
“I know I’ve put in the work, and hopefully I can get a bit of reward for effort going forward.”
Half a dozen games into her AFLW career, Maddi Newman has continued to jump all the hurdles that come her way.
Undoubtedly a future leader at the Adelaide Crows, her mission to lock down a position in her team’s line-up this season has so far been a very successful one.
No hard conversation will dishearten her, and any injury setbacks from here on in will only make her a better player; it’s just how she’s gone about her business from day dot.
Her ever-improving form and tough-as-nails attitude is hard to miss, and means it is only a matter of time before it’s all the AFLW is crowing about.