Tara Murray
New Kyneton coach Paul Chapman realised this year that he missed football and wanted to stay involved in the sport.
Chapman started playing football when he was six, before AFL career and he had coaching ever since he retired, so Chapman didn’t know what it was like not to have football.
He started the year as Greenvale’s coach in the Essendon District Football League premier division, but stood down in June due to work, family and travel commitments.
The three-time AFL premiership player said he soon realised that he wanted to stay involved with football.
“I have moved up to the Macedon Ranges,” he said.
“Being relatively close to Kyneton, I’m looking forward to it.
“I missed footy this year. I was hoping that I would miss footy.
“I loved coaching and loved the boys at Greenvale, but with travel and work it was too much.
“I had started up my business and it was a bad time to start a business. I just wanted to make sure I got it off the ground and things are now looking good with the business.
“I’m now excited to meet the boys and get to work.”
Chapman comes to the Tigers having coached at Greenvale and previously Werribee Districts, after finishing his 280 game AFL career with Geelong and Essendon.
He took Greenvale to the 2018 grand final.
Chapman said the closeness of Kyneton to home and the quality of the Bendigo Football League were two of the main reasons for him signing with the club.
“Nathan Thompson has a lot to do with the club being his local club and I caught up with him and the committee.
“It sounded like an exciting time and a good time to be a part of it.”
Chapman said that like Greenvale, Kyneton was focusing on bringing through young and local talent.
It was something that excites Chapman.
“What I loved about Greenvale was the number of local boys and most weeks we played with 25 points.
“Being young and local guys at Kyneton, hopefully I can help them improve individually and collectively.
“I’m looking forward to going down to meet the boys.”
Chapman said he was yet to get into the details around recruiting and starting training, but he said he would look to be guided by Thompson on any gaps they have.
“I can’t wait to get into it.”
New football manager Thompson said they were all pretty excited to have Chapman on board.
Thompson was going to coach the senior and under-18 sides this year, before the season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
“It’s very exciting and everyone around the club is ecstatic,” Thompson said.
“He’s a good fellow. He moved up here and we’ve had conversations the last couple of years about him coming to the club.
“He’s a great person to have around the club.”
Meanwhile the club is advertising for a netball director and A-grade coach for next season.
To register interest in the roles, email kfnc.secretary@gmail.com. Applications close October 21.
