In round 10, after playing in five consecutive losses to begin his career, Newton played in his first AFL victory in a match where he was occasionally a tall target in Melbourne's forward line. At the halfway mark of the season, Newton's "encouraging" form was described as one of the few good points of the Demons' disappointing season. Newton missed the next three games after his first win, but was recalled to the side in round 14 and remained in it until round 20, kicking three goals in the seven matches. He was injured in the round 20 game against West Coast and subsequently missed the rest of the season. After a promising first season in which he played 13 games, Newton was expected to improve in 1998 and become a regular in the side. However, he was sidelined by a groin strain early in the season, which recurred regularly throughout 1998. Newton was only able to return to the reserves in mid-July. His groin injury then flared up again and, by August, it became so bad that he was required to miss the rest of the season. After his horror 1998 season, Newton had a much better pre-season for 1999. He played in a practice match against Fremantle and was considered to be on track to play in round 1. Midway through April, Newton played his first full game in the reserves, kicking four goals in the process, only for a hernia operation to sideline him for a month. He returned to the reserves in June, but then suffered a shoulder injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season. After two injury-riddled seasons where he was unable to make a senior appearance, Newton was delisted by the Demons at the end of 1999. He nominated for the pre-season draft, but went undrafted and so retired from football. In 2003, Newton was appointed Melbourne's media manager, a role he filled for six seasons. In conjunction with his media responsibilities, Newton also became the Demons' ruck coach in 2008. Newton left the Demons at the end of 2008, becoming the ruck coach at Hawthorn and public relations and marketing executive at the Moonee Valley Racing Club. Newton's three brothers, Michael, Cohan and Brent, were all accomplished country football players in the Ovens & King Football League and Ovens & Murray Football League. Newton's father, Laurie, played football for Wangaratta Football Club in the Ovens & Murray Football League.