Murray Newman has been given a clean slate under new West Coast coach Adam Simpson, and the troubled midfielder is hoping the Western Australia courts will afford him the same luxury.
Newman is facing jail time after being charged with grievous bodily harm over an incident in a Perth nightclub last year, in which the victim was left with severe facial injuries that required surgery.
The three-day trial will start on December 16.
Last November, Newman was beaten in a pair of two-kilometre time trials by then-coach John Worsfold.
Newman's career hit a new low in July when he walked out on his WAFL club Swan Districts during the opening half of their clash with Claremont.
West Coast have decided to persevere with the 19-year-old, who has one more year to run on his contract.
But even though he's back in favour at the Eagles, his future will be decided by the courts.
"He's got a clean slate with me. I spoke to him briefly a couple of weeks ago and I mentioned exactly that, " Simpson said on Wednesday.
"(His condition) is good.
"He's been at the club most days. He's got a really good attitude at the moment.
"We'll be a little bit patient with what happens in the next few weeks.
"We can't make too many plans until we find out what happens. But he's a talent."
Newman, who played four games in 2012, was part of West Coast's younger crop who appeared at the start of pre-season training on Wednesday.
Ruckman Nic Naitanui, who was hampered by groin problems this year, is set to join his teammates in the coming weeks.
"He's definitely running now and I think he's pain free," Simpson said of Naitanui.
"So touch wood, he's right to go.
"He's pretty keen to make a pretty good first impression, so we'll make sure we manage his loads, but at the moment he looks OK."
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