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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Dockers coy about chasing Cloke

Updated May 02, 2012 14:53:26

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says he is in a hurry to add a power forward to his list, but refuses to reveal whether Collingwood's Travis Cloke is in the club's sights.

The Dockers are reportedly in the hunt to sign Cloke on a deal that could be worth around $1 million a season.

Cloke will be a restricted free agent at season's end, meaning the Magpies could retain his services if they are able to match any offer made by a rival club.

The Dockers are in desperate need of a reliable key forward to partner Matthew Pavlich in attack.

Former Magpies forward Jack Anthony has failed dismally since crossing to Fremantle two years ago, while Kepler Bradley has struggled to hold his position up forward for any length of time.

Lyon confirmed the Dockers needed more firepower in attack, but says there are a number of ways the club can achieve their goal.

"From a football club perspective, we're on record as having a clear, strategic list-management plan in place, which Chris Bond and Brad Lloyd head up," Lyon said.

"They've been planning for free agency since inception and, clearly, they're trying to identify opportunities within the market and work within the bounds of the AFL policies of that.

"We started a list-management process four years ago when we were paying maximum salary cap and finishing on the bottom. Since then, it's been four years of drafting and a lot of youth brought in.

"I mentioned that Carlton took 10 years to get to their position from when they were bottom in a similar position and I said we don't want to take 10 years to do that. We're in a hurry.

"Talent identification is through draft, trade and free agency, and a power forward sits within that model."

Lyon says ruckman Aaron Sandilands will miss Saturday's clash with Gold Coast at Carrara due to a knee injury.

Midfielder Nat Fyfe will also be out for the next 12 weeks after opting for surgery to fix his troublesome left shoulder.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, fremantle-6160, collingwood-3066

First posted May 02, 2012 14:53:26

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