Newton is nursing a minor quad injury that will keep him out of action this week, but there’s hope he will be able to replenish West Coast’s battered stocks in the near future.
The Eagles have been hit hard by injuries recently.
Jeremy McGovern’s career could be over due to concussion, Waterman will undergo season-ending surgery this week while Jamie Cripps (knee) and Matt Owies (calf) will be sidelined for at least three more weeks.
Star midfielder Elliot Yeo, who is yet to play this season due to a serious ankle injury that required surgery, is still 5-6 weeks away from resuming, while Dom Sheed suffered a season-ending knee injury during the summer.
Newton loves surfing – a sport that comes with huge risks for professional athletes.
But McQualter doesn’t want his players to live in a bubble and is encouraging Newton – or anyone else for that matter – to jump on a surfboard.
“We encourage that, it’s good,” McQualter said.
“I was speaking to Crippa yesterday, he told me he used to surf a lot when he was younger, and it was the fittest he’d ever been.
“So we might have to get a few more of our boys to start surfing.”
West Coast were interested in snaring Newton during last year’s national draft, but they decided against it after the 18-year-old was struck down by a foot injury.
McQualter is flagging a role up forward for Newton with a possible move into the midfield down the track.
West Coast (1-10) are back in action on Sunday when they host Geelong.
AAP