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KYNETON has pulled off a major BFNL coup, securing three-time Geelong premiership player and Norm Smith medallist Paul Chapman as its new senior coach.
Chapman accepted the role on Friday morning, taking over from outgoing coach Nathan Thompson.
However, Thompson was heavily involved in the securing of his replacement in his new role as Kyneton's football manager.
"We're really excited to have Paul coming on board as our new senior coach," Thompson said.
"We feel really good about the process we went through to find the best person available and we had some great candidates.
"But in the end, the opportunity to have someone of Paul's calibre involved with your football club is just too hard to resist.
"We're really looking forward to seeing how the players respond and what Chappy can bring to our club."
But in the end, the opportunity to have someone of Paul's calibre involved with your football club is just too hard to resist
- Nathan Thompson
Chapman had a decorated AFL career over 280 games with Geelong (251) and Essendon (29) from 2000 to 2015.
He played in Geelong premierships in 2007, 2009 and 2011, winning the Norm Smith Medal in the 2009 triumph over St Kilda.
Chapman is also a dual All-Australian in 2009 and 2010, won Geelong's best and fairest in 2006 and represented Victoria in 2008.
And he also has coaching experience having previously led Essendon District league club Greenvale from 2017 until stepping aside earlier this year.
Now aged 38, Thompson isn't expecting Chapman to be pulling on the boots for the Tigers.
"There has been no discussion around a playing perspective. He has been appointed to coach us and that's what we want him to concentrate on," Thompson said.
"We have good numbers and our list is in a solid position and there is a real platform for us to put together some plans with Chappy to try to improve.
"We see it as a real positive that we have someone from outside Kyneton coming in with a new voice and some fresh thoughts.
"Chappy is a 280-game three-time premiership player with an unbelievable resume, and the fact he has already had coaching experience at local level is a bonus."
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