Richmond’s ex-captain Chris Newman broke an AFL record on Saturday he’ll be happy to lose in a few weeks’ time.

The 31-year-old played his 231st senior game, taking him past former St Kilda great Trevor Barker as the player to have notched the highest number of VFL/AFL games without ever playing in a final.

But Newman, who made his debut for the Tigers in 2002, the year after the club’s most recent finals campaign, looked like a man who knew the drought is about to break.

He pumped his fist in jubilation as the siren sounded on Saturday’s 41-point thumping of top-placed Hawthorn.

It was Richmond’s 12th win of the season, which should already be enough to qualify them for the post-season.

Tiger key defender Alex Rance said helping Newman to his first finals campaign would mean a lot.

“For a bloke who I think he instilled a lot of our attitudes and beliefs early days when the club wasn’t doing so well, I think it means so much to him because he believes in this playing group so much,” Rance said.

“For him to not have the rewards finals-wise it’s a bit heart-breaking really.

“It’s on us now.

“He’s given so much back to us, so it’s about time we give back to him.”

The five Tigers with finals experience all gained it elsewhere, and Rance said one of those, Troy Chaplin, who joined Richmond from Port Adelaide in the off-season, had provided an enormous steadying influence in defence.

Chaplin kept Hawthorn star Jarryd Roughead goal-less on Saturday and Rance said he also contributed to his blanketing of Lance Franklin.

“I can’t say enough good things about Chappy,” Rance said.

“He’s been a fantastic leader and just came up to me before the game and said `Look mate, you just do your job, we’ll worry about organising everything else.’

“That gave me just a little boost to know that another bloke’s got my back.

“On ground his direction’s really fantastic.”