Michael Newton (footballer)

Michael Newton
Personal information
Full name	Michael Newton
Date of birth	27 April 1987 (1987-04-27) (age 24)
Original team	Murray Bushrangers (TAC Cup)
Draft	#43, 2004 National Draft, Melbourne
Height/Weight	193cm / 91kg
Position(s)	Forward
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2007–2011	Melbourne	28 (35)
1 Playing statistics to end of 2011 season .
Career highlights
AFL Mark of the Year 2007

Michael Newton (born 27 April 1987) is an Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Career

2007 Mark of the Year

Originally from Whorouly,^[1] Newton was taken at pick 43 in the 2004 AFL Draft. He was given plenty of time to mature in the Victorian Football League at the Sandringham Football Club where he had kicked big bags of goals on a number of occasions and before debuting for the Demons in 2007 in Round 13 in Neale Daniher's final game as coach.

With a knee injury to David Neitz, Newton was required to be a stand in full forward and subsequently played successive games, kicking a goal in his first game and bagging an impressive three goals against Carlton. Having an impressive debut season, he took the 2007 Mark of the year, marking high above a pack, resting on David Neitz's head.^[1]

Quickly gathering a cult following amongst Demons fans due to his high-marking, Newton now receives shouts of 'Juice' upon every disposal. His nickname was influenced by 1970s American pop and country singer Juice Newton, who also provided the same nickname for former Melbourne player Leigh Newton during his brief career in 1997.

Newton's 2008 season was dominated by a knee injury. After kicking one goal in round 1 against Hawthorn, Newton was dropped to the VFL to play for Melbourne's previously affiliated club, Sandringham, which is where he picked up the injury. Newton returned for Melbourne in the AFL late in the 2008 season and was in and out in 2009, although after being dropped to the VFL, Newton responded by booting 5 goals for Casey Scorpions.

Newton managed five games in 2009 for 60 disposals and kicked six goals. He then played only four games in 2010.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Le Grand, Chip (23 July 2007). "Newton defies law of gravity". The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/newton-defies-law-of-gravity/story-e6frg7mx-1111114014726. Retrieved 10 December 2010. 

External links

• Michael Newton (footballer)'s profile on the Official AFL Website of the Melbourne Football Club
• Michael Newton (footballer)'s statistics from AFL Tables

Awards
Preceded by Brad Ottens	AFL Mark of the Year 2007	Succeeded by Matthew Lloyd

Persondata
Name	Newton, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	27 April 1987
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death