Ben Newton Biography

Chris Dawes, Ben Newton, Viv Michie and Max King are delisted by the Demons.

Ben Newton will be sidelined until February after undergoing ankle surgery.

Newton injured a tendon in his ankle while training in the off-season before the players officially returned for pre-season.

"He had an operation on his ankle two weeks ago and he is the one player who won't do much training prior to Christmas," Melbourne football operations manager Josh Mahoney said of Newton.

Melbourne recruit Ben Newton says the Demons' current position resembles that of his former club Port Adelaide before it emerged from football's wilderness.

"Coming from Port Adelaide, I see a lot of similarities to where Port Adelaide was and where Melbourne is now," Newton said.

"There is good intent from everyone and positive energy. Training standards have been really good, so I'm looking forward to (the season)."

Melbourne general manager of player personnel Todd Viney says the club had been watching Newton for a considerable time and had scouted him heavily last season before recruiting him as a delisted free agent this year.

"He was one of those players that we identified to watch after being an elite junior [footballer]. We watched him pretty closely and monitored his form over the last period," Viney said.

"He did some things that really caught our eye."

The Demons particularly rate Newton's ability around stoppages and at clearances.

"He's got a great ability to take the ball cleanly from stoppage and get out of traffic well," Viney said.

"He's a left footer who has a bit of time, he has some nice foot skills and he's a goalkicking mid, which is always a good attribute to have. But he's a natural finder of the footy – he can find the ball well."

Melbourne has emerged as the front-runner to secure the services of delisted Port Adelaide midfielder Ben Newton.

Ben Newton turns down a contract with Port Adelaide and will test his luck at the NAB AFL Draft.

Newton broke through for his AFL debut this season and played with impressive consistency in the SANFL, finishing second in the club's best and fairest.

He played four premiership-season games for the Power and was regarded as one of their hardest-working players.

"Due to the strength of our midfield, 'Newts' played only six games this year and he has decided to see if there are better opportunities at another club so he will enter the draft,'' Power list manager Jason Cripps said.

"We understand and respect his decision."

Ben Newton makes his AFL debut for Port Adelaide at Manuka Oval with 15 disposals (4 kicks and 11 handballs), 4 marks and 3 tackles in a 35-point win over GWS.