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KYNETON captain Hamish Govan says the appointment of Paul Chapman as new coach has generated an enormous buzz among the Tigers' playing group.
The Tigers have landed arguably the Bendigo Football-Netball League's highest-profile coaching appointment since Mick McGuane arrived at Gisborne in 2002 with the signing of three-time Geelong premiership player and Norm Smith medallist Chapman.
"As a playing group it's really exciting... it's not every day you have a person of that calibre walk into your club," Govan said on Tuesday.
"Thommo (Nathan Thompson, Kyneton football manager) and the crew have done a really good job to land him... we can't wait to get into it."
Chapman, who lives in Woodend and will be a non-playing coach, not only brings 280 games of AFL experience at Geelong and Essendon to the Tigers, but he has already coached at local level having led Essendon District league club Greenvale from 2017 until stepping down earlier this year, as well as Werribee Districts in 2016.
"Learning off someone who has played 280 games, won a Norm Smith and a best and fairest, I can't wait to pick his brain about footy and how he has gone about achieving what he has done," Govan said.
"The past few coaches Kyneton have had in Thommo and Luke Beattie have been awesome, but they have been Kyneton born-and-bred, so it's going to be good having someone completely new to the club to bring in new ideas and a bit of a breath of fresh air... and a very exciting one at that.
"We're looking forward to having Paul and his family involved. We pride ourselves on being a family club and we can't wait to welcome him with open arms."
Govan was appointed captain of the Tigers this year, taking over from younger brother, Josh, who has moved to Queensland.
However, he never got the chance to lead the Tigers into battle, with the 2020 BFNL season called off because of coronavirus.
"Talking about footy again over the past few weeks has been great and now that we've got Paul on board as coach, we're all just itching to get stuck into it," Govan said.
* 2021 BFNL coaches:
Castlemaine - Don Moran
Eaglehawk - Travis Matheson
Gisborne - Rob Waters
Golden Square - Christian Carter
Kangaroo Flat - James Flaherty
Kyneton - Paul Chapman
Maryborough - Justin Abrams
Sandhurst - Ashley Connick
South Bendigo - Nathan Horbury
Strathfieldsaye - Darryl Wilson and Shannon Geary
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