courtesy of
www.afl.com.au
Just a bit on Chaplin.
Chaplin looming large
After an outstanding year with the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup and the Vic Country side at the National AFL under 18 championships, key defender/forward Troy Chaplin looms as one of the most sought after talls in the National AFL Draft.
The 17-year-old, who also won the Ron Barassi Medal for the best Australian player in under-17 International Rules series against Ireland earlier this year, is already being touted as a top 10 draftee, but Chaplin said the pressure wasn’t getting to him.
“It doesn’t really worry me. I just want to get out there and play football,” Chaplin told afl.com.au at the National AFL Draft Camp.
“If I was to get drafted, it wouldn’t worry me at what number or where I went, as long as I went.
“I just enjoy my football and will give it the best shot possible.”
But for Chaplin, who was also named All-Australian in 2003 after the championships, the talented youngster was almost lost to the game, as he was played elite underage junior basketball.
“I haven’t played basketball for a while now, but the decision was made for me, which made it easier,” Chaplin said.
And then this one
Keep one step ahead
When Troy Chaplin was about six, he was a natural right-foot kick. That was until his father, Gary, taught him how to kick on his non-preferred left foot. The ploy worked so well that Chaplin became a ‘natural’ – or should that be ‘adopted’ – left-footer.
In truth, Chaplin, who turned 17 in February, has kept putting both feet forward ever since he first touched a football. But he took the biggest step in his development last month when he won the Ron Barassi Medal as the best player for the AIS/AFL Academy side against Ireland in the under-17 International Rules Series.
Chaplin, who AFL insiders say will probably be a first-round selection at this year’s National AFL Draft – as were the other four Barassi Medallists, Joel Corey, Andrew McDougall, Luke Hodge and Jay Schulz – says he feels privileged to receive the honour.
“There were a lot of good players in our team. There were no standouts. We were all pretty even and consistent, so I was pretty lucky to get picked out,” he says. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”
Such awards might become more commonplace than Chaplin thinks if the hype surrounding him proves correct.
The AFL’s talent manager, Kevin Sheehan, describes him as a versatile key-position player – he stands 193 centimetres – with a strong frame, genuine match-winning qualities, exceptional disposal and great leadership and decision-making skills. That’s a glowing endorsement in anyone’s language.
Sheehan also cited Chaplin’s efforts in the third and deciding Test against Ireland, when he was swung from defence to attack, as typical of his character and abilities.
“It was a really tight game and he kicked 10 points in about 10 minutes in the second quarter and, all of a sudden, Australia kicked away and won the game,” Sheehan says.
Chaplin, a strapping lad from the central Victorian town of Maryborough, attributes much of his decision-making skills to playing top-level junior basketball. He represented Victoria Country at under-16 and under-18 level, but gave the game away when he was selected in the AIS/AFL Academy side.
He had been travelling to Melbourne every second Friday night to play with the Bendigo Braves in the Victorian Basketball Association and then fronting up the next day to play for the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup.
Now Chaplin aims to help the Rebels make another finals series, play well for Victoria Country in the National AFL Under-18 Championships and then get drafted. While he is an Essendon supporter – Bomber skipper James Hird is his hero – he insists he will be happy to “go anywhere” to play in the AFL.
“It’s always been my dream to play AFL footy,” Chaplin says. “I just want to make the most of any opportunity that comes my way.”
That chance will no doubt come.
RON BARASSI MEDALLISTS
Year Name Draft selection
1999 – Joel Corey No. 8 (Geelong)
2000 – Andrew McDougall No. 5 (West Coast)
2001 – Luke Hodge No. 1 (Hawthorn)
2002 – Jay Schulz No. 12 (Richmond)
2003 – Troy Chaplin