A sense of unfinished business and faith in his fitness has led Richmond veteran Chris Newman to extend his AFL career into a 15th season.
Newman, who will play his 250th match when the Tigers' finals hopes go on the line against Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Saturday, signed a one-year contract extension this week.
The 32-year-old admitted he harboured some doubts about the future when he suffered a calf injury against Geelong in round seven.
"I didn't play a great game either and I was probably at my lowest point there," Newman said on Tuesday.
"I thought, realistically, I probably wouldn't go around again.
"But things have changed."
Newman decided to play on a few weeks ago and coach Damien Hardwick gave it his blessing.
"My wife was getting a little bit sick of me coming home saying 'yes, no, yes, no'," the defender said, failing to rule out a 16th season.
"I needed to be confident my body could hold up and I'm really confident it will.
"It didn't really sit comfortably with me - to walk away now. It just feels like we've got too much unfinished business."
Newman has played in all of Richmond's eight consecutive wins, which leaves the side needing victory over the ladder-leading Swans to seal a remarkable finals berth.
He debuted in 2002 and captained the Tigers for four seasons, but had to wait until 2013 to play his first final.
Richmond led at every break in that elimination final against Carlton, but not when it mattered.
Newman forecast success in the next 12 months for the club, but made it clear the f-word remained taboo this week at Punt Rd Oval.
"It's really hard to talk about finals when we have to get the job done this week (to play finals)," Newman said.
"Every week (over the past two months) has felt like an elimination final, we couldn't afford to lose any more games.
"We can't get overawed by the occasion and what it means.
"We need to play the way we've been playing the last eight weeks to have any sort of chance."
Newman said the distraction of playing the Swans in such an important match means he has given the upcoming milestone little thought.
"I feel extremely blessed to have played 250 games at this club. I'll reflect on it when I'm finished," he said, adding that Richmond can't afford to play "emotional football" on the weekend.
