Chaplin chasing flag at Tigerland

Updated October 10, 2012 16:24:39

Richmond recruit Troy Chaplin says the chance to play finals and push for an AFL premiership was what lured him to the Tigers.

The ex-Port Adelaide 26-year-old backman has already played more AFL finals (five) than anyone else at Richmond, which is enduring the competition's longest ongoing drought, having last reached the post-season in 2001.

The only four Tigers with finals experience - Chaplin, fellow new recruit Chris Knights, Ivan Maric and Shaun Grigg - gained it elsewhere.

But Chaplin, poached from the struggling Power as a free agent to shore up Richmond's defence, believes that is about to change.

"Their list is in a fantastic position at the moment," Chaplin told Melbourne's SEN radio on Wednesday.

"There's the guys that they've brought in and added, but not only that, their younger guys as well, guys like Trent Cotchin, he's going to be a superstar of the competition, we all know that.

"They are starting to add some depth now and they're on the cusp of playing finals and that was something I really want to do.

"I've been lucky enough to play a handful of finals games with Port Adelaide.

"But I'm really looking forward to hopefully getting Richmond back into the finals and maybe pushing for a flag in the next couple of years."

Chaplin, from the regional Victorian town of Maryborough, said the chance to play regularly in front of 60,000-plus crowds at the MCG was also too good to let slip.

That will be a marked contrast from his recent experience with Port, whose home attendances rarely topped 20,000 this year.

"It's been pretty tough the last couple of years with Port Adelaide," Chaplin said.

The big-bodied defender was also looking forward to being coached by Damien Hardwick, whose playing career at the Power overlapped with Chaplin's for one season.

Chaplin said at that stage, in 2004, Hardwick was a quiet and reserved character, but even then his opinions on football commanded respect.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, sa, vic, richmond-3121, port-adelaide-5015, australia

First posted October 10, 2012 16:24:39

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Byrnes, Chaplin on the move

Updated October 04, 2012 18:23:51

Shannon Byrnes and Troy Chaplin have become the latest AFL players to shift clubs through free agency, with Melbourne and Richmond the beneficiaries.

Geelong and Port Adelaide opted not to match offers for Byrnes and Chaplin respectively, clearing the way for the Demons and Tigers to add another player to their lists.

Melbourne had an offer accepted for Byrnes, who played in the Cats' premierships in 2007 and 2009.

The Demons' general manager of list management Tim Harrington says the club was delighted to bring in a player and person of Byrnes' calibre.

"He comes from a club that's had a lot of success, particularly finals success over a long period of time, and he's exactly the type of player who can assist our own playing group," Harrington said in a statement.

"We see Shannon fulfilling a specific onfield role and pleasingly he was keen to come to the Melbourne Football Club. We believe he comes here for the right reasons.

"He's not only a quality AFL player in his own right, but he's a player who can help many players on our list realise their own potential."

Richmond has been the busiest club since the introduction of free agency, adding Power defender Chaplin after giving unrestricted free agent Chris Knights a three-year deal earlier this week.

Port Adelaide general manager football Peter Rohde says the Power had considered detailed medical opinion regarding Chaplin and that the club was not willing to match the terms of the Tigers' deal.

"Troy needed serious knee surgery towards the end of 2012 and while we hope he has many years of football left, we're not prepared to commit to the extent Richmond is," Rohde said.

"We would have liked Troy to remain at Alberton, but on terms suitable to the Port Adelaide Football Club as well as the player."

Chaplin is the second player to leave Alberton this week after the Power's Danyle Pearce accepted an offer from Fremantle.

The completion of Byrnes and Chaplin's moves means there are no other outstanding offers on the table.

But Adelaide forward Kurt Tippett has told the Crows he is seeking a trade, and reports suggest that Magpies pair Chris Dawes and Sharrod Wellingham could be on the move from Collingwood.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, melbourne-3000, vic, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted October 04, 2012 18:20:47

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Port stars should query cash woes: Chaplin

Updated June 1, 2011 14:35:00

Port Adelaide stalwart Troy Chaplin says out-of-contract team-mates would be stupid not to question the AFL club's dire financial position.

But Chaplin said he would be disappointed in any player leaving because of Port's cash crisis.

Victorian-born utility Jackson Trengove and key backman Alipate Carlile are among Port players coming off contract at season's end.

Port will rely on AFL funds to survive the next three seasons, with a rescue package to be detailed within a fortnight after the club's licence holder, the SANFL, said it could nOt afford to prop up the Power.

Chaplin said the cash woes deserved discussion from out-of-contract team-mates.

"That is something the players will look at, along with a whole other range of things, so it would be stupid not to mention it and find out where this club is heading," Chaplin said.

The 25-year-old hoped team-mates would not leave because of the financial predicament.

"You play for the club because you love playing for the club," he said.

"You have got to look at what situation the club is in, surely.

"But you have got to look at where the playing list is as well. We think as a group we're heading in the right direction. We have got an exciting list and we believe in what we are doing.

"If the player is leaving because he thinks the club is in dire straits, I mean that is a little bit disappointing.

"Surely, you want to ride it out and go through the hard times because it means out the other end, it is going to be just as good in the glory times as well."

Port, with just two wins this season, haS the lowest football department spending in the league, some $5 million less than Collingwood.

The AFL reportedly wants its emergency funding directed into the football department to ensure on-field competitiveness.

"It's no secret that we're not spending anywhere near as much in the footy department as any other AFL club," Chaplin said.

"Look, it would be great to put a bit more money in - another (assistant) coach would help.

"(Coach) Matty (Primus) is the right guy for this job. The support coaching, obviously, you need the best available."

-AAP

SMS: port adelaide football club, trop chaplin, afl

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, sa, port-adelaide-5015

First posted June 1, 2011 13:40:00

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Port stars should query cash woes: Chaplin

Updated June 1, 2011 14:35:00

Port Adelaide stalwart Troy Chaplin says out-of-contract team-mates would be stupid not to question the AFL club's dire financial position.

But Chaplin said he would be disappointed in any player leaving because of Port's cash crisis.

Victorian-born utility Jackson Trengove and key backman Alipate Carlile are among Port players coming off contract at season's end.

Port will rely on AFL funds to survive the next three seasons, with a rescue package to be detailed within a fortnight after the club's licence holder, the SANFL, said it could nOt afford to prop up the Power.

Chaplin said the cash woes deserved discussion from out-of-contract team-mates.

"That is something the players will look at, along with a whole other range of things, so it would be stupid not to mention it and find out where this club is heading," Chaplin said.

The 25-year-old hoped team-mates would not leave because of the financial predicament.

"You play for the club because you love playing for the club," he said.

"You have got to look at what situation the club is in, surely.

"But you have got to look at where the playing list is as well. We think as a group we're heading in the right direction. We have got an exciting list and we believe in what we are doing.

"If the player is leaving because he thinks the club is in dire straits, I mean that is a little bit disappointing.

"Surely, you want to ride it out and go through the hard times because it means out the other end, it is going to be just as good in the glory times as well."

Port, with just two wins this season, haS the lowest football department spending in the league, some $5 million less than Collingwood.

The AFL reportedly wants its emergency funding directed into the football department to ensure on-field competitiveness.

"It's no secret that we're not spending anywhere near as much in the footy department as any other AFL club," Chaplin said.

"Look, it would be great to put a bit more money in - another (assistant) coach would help.

"(Coach) Matty (Primus) is the right guy for this job. The support coaching, obviously, you need the best available."

-AAP

SMS: port adelaide football club, trop chaplin, afl

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, sa, port-adelaide-5015

First posted June 1, 2011 13:40:00

View the original article here